You were a bit tired from all of the preparations for the No Air stage for Kingdom, however you were excited for the other groups, and Deobi, to see it. Since No Air was a favorite of yours, doing this concept was really exciting and you put everything into it.
You were all sitting around the tank for the beginning scenes, certain members going in. You guys had just finished clowning Chanhee for looking like a blowfish while he was underwater with Hyunjae, and were now waiting for Sunwoo to get into the tank for the last turn. You had been watching him closely, trying to console him with the rest of the members as he wandered about nervously. You watched him as he looked down at the tank, trying to muster up the courage he needed before going in.
You remembered the night you were laying with him in his room just chatting when he confessed to only learning to swim when he was around 8 or so because he found the water scary, and how that fear still stuck to him. You had chuckled and hugged him, teasing him once or twice before moving on. You had learnt to swim pretty young and were a strong swimmer, so you didn't want to bully him for something he found difficult.
Immediately after he had gotten in he had to stay above the water for a few minutes before he could go down, even then only staying under for a couple of seconds at a time. He got up and as Hyunjae went to the front of the tank to try and talk to him he saw him crying. You vaguely heard Sunwoo voicing to the camera how scary this was for him, and as Younghoon offered to go in and help him you told him that you'd go instead, saying that you could act as the POV.
"Sit down, Younghoon. Rest a bit, I got this.” Some of the guys laughed as you petted Younghoon's head before walking off, politely asking if you could go in to help Sunwoo, to which the staff ushered you to get changed into one of your member's shirts before you could hop on in.
You took off your shirt, changing into one of the guy's white shirts you had borrowed specifically for this. As you came onto the scene, you distantly heard Sunwoo sniffling. You came over and crouched down by the side of the tank, smiling at him softly. He smiled back, sniffling again.
"May I join you?" You asked with a grin, trying to lighten his mood. He laughed, wiping his nose with the back of his hand before moving further down the side to allow you some space by the handle. You hopped in, taking a second to adjust to the water before grabbing a hold of the handle bar, shuffling closer and after putting your elbow on it, you lifted your hands to wipe away the tears from his face, though they weren't as noticible due to the water. He sniffled again, closing his eyes as you ran your thumbs under his eyes and down his cheeks as extra measure.
"I'm sorry,” he whispered.
"It’s okay. I really don't mind," you chuckled, "and anyway, I like the water." You wiggled your brows, making him laugh.
You grabbed the bar with your free hand, your dominant hand going under the water to interlock your fingers. He seemed to relax a bit as you kept hovering above the surface. "Okay. Let's go down a few times, and when you're ready we can go do some poses, yeah?"
"Yeah."
You smiled, counting before going under the surface, staying as long as he managed before going back up and letting him breathe. Everytime you went under, you had him go just a little lower until eventually he was comfortable enough to start posing, though he couldn't stay under the water for very long.
"So I was thinking of a pose where I'm hugging you, like trying to keep you under the water?" You suggested, blushing a bit at the compliments coming through the speaker. Sunwoo nodded, taking a deep breath.
"How far will I have to go down?"
You bit your lip nervously. “At least until the bottom, but if you'd rather I can go down and you can be closer to the top?"
"Let's do that."
You smiled, counting again before going down and positioning yourself as quickly as possible. You had a decent amount of sight under the water so as soon as you saw him waiting with his arms open, you pushed yourself up from the bottom and flew into his arms, hugging him desperately, trying to convey the emotion that you didn't want him to go.
You could feel Sunwoo changing up his pose to compensate and after you guys got the "Well done" from the team Sunwoo tightened his grip on your back, pushing himself up and pulling you guys above the water.
He gasped for air, letting you go as you reached for the handlebar, shaking out his hair. You chuckled, ruffling it slightly as you pushed back your own hair, heart warming at the small smile he gave you.
"Alright, here're your towels!" your manager said, handing Sunwoo his towel as he was nearest to the exit. He took your hand and helped you out like the gentleman that he is, handing you your towel. You looked over his shoulder to thank your manager, telling Sunwoo about how well he did and that you were proud of him.
His pictures came out great, so you tell him to head down so long so that you could grab your clothes and bag.
You had dried your hair somewhat, trying to dry yourself decently even though the staff had said not to worry about the water. As you were ruffling through your bag looking for a new pair of pants you jumped slightly as arms wrapped around your waist.
"Thank you for being so patient." Sunwoo said into your ear softly, droplets of water dropping onto your shoulder. You smiled, patting his hand and turning around to give him a quick squeeze.
"Anytime." He grinned, laughing when you grabbed your towel and threw it over his head playfully, making you laugh as well.
"Do you have extra sweats, by any chance? I only have a shirt." You said, rolling your eyes at yourself.
"Yeah, I should have some, gimme a sec—" He came back a minute or so later with a pair of pants, handing it to you and smiling, telling you he'd see you back in the front. You came out of the stall in Sunwoo's pants and your shirt, still ruffling your hair with your towel to get rid of any excess water before tying it up into a messy bun until you got to the dorms to blow-dry it.
When you got to the front Sunwoo came and threw a new towel over your shoulders, telling you that you were bound to get a cold like that. You just shook your head, though you were secretly blushing.
You got to the dorms an hour or so later, immediately drying your hair and changing into your pj's, subconsciously heading to Sunwoo's room to read on his bed.
"Uhm, hello?" Sunwoo called a few minutes later, having just gotten out of the shower. You blushed, clearing your throat and covering it up by walking over and hugging him tightly, swaying slightly.
"You okay now?" You mumbled into his chest, smiling at the way you could hear the vibrations of his voice when he talked.
"Thanks to you, yeah. I can't thank you enough, Y/N." He said, pressing his face into your hair.
You grinned, pulling away. "I'm glad. Night, Woo! See you tomorrow at practice!"
You impulsively stood on your toes, kissing his cheek quickly before rushing out of the room to your own, where you jumped onto the bed and screamed into your pillows.
Sunwoo touched his cheek with a smile, chuckling in disbelief as his cheeks burnt up. "Yah! You left your book!"
when you notice a new and cute barista working at your favorite cafe, disappointingly, your first impression is that he's just a flirt. but, once his eyes land on you, he's an absolute mess, unable to come up with a single pick-up line.
genre: cafe au, loser barista sunwoo, reader who likes to tease, flirting (sometimes successful), flowers and iced chai lattes <3, confessions, getting together, kissing
notes: surprise!
word count: 6k
There’s a certain ambience that you’ve always adored when it comes to cafes. There’s the familiar hiss of the coffee machine as well as the soothing chatter of the customers–you like to eavesdrop on some of their conversations for the fun of it. Then, there’s the warm lighting and the gorgeous decorations such as vases full of well-kept plants.
Oh, and there’s a really cute barista right there behind the counter.
A new barista, one that you’ve never seen before. You’ve been coming to this cafe for years, so much that you’ve even become close friends with the staff and have practically tried everything on the menu. Well, except for the experimental concoction that Eric, one of the baristas you do know, attempts to convince you to try. You’d much rather not be poisoned, thank you very much.
But this barista, whom you can’t even get a glimpse of his nametag from where you’re standing, is… well, if you can’t say cute again, then he’s certainly a captivating sight. His hair curls slightly at the ends, falling over his face in the loveliest way. His eyes are bright and caring as he listens to the customer’s order.
And then you feel your heart skip a beat at his smile. He smiles gorgeously. Perhaps you’ve never seen such a perfect man in your life. He even scrunches his nose slightly as he converses with the woman in front of him. You shut your eyes momentarily and take a long, deep breath.
You wonder if this is what love at first sight feels like.
Still, the cute barista with an even cuter smile is so close yet so far–with the only barrier being… the line of people in front of you. Normally, you wouldn’t mind waiting, but this–this is kind of important.
You’re snapped out of your thoughts when you hear a high-pitched laugh. You look up, wondering if it oddly came from that man when you realize that it’s actually from the customer he’s talking to. The woman is giggling uncontrollably as the barista tells her a joke. She even covers her face, as if she’s flustered, and then he–he winks.
You can see the sparkle in his eyes as he watches the customer’s shy reaction before he waves her goodbye to pick up her drink on the other side of the counter.
You feel your hopeful smile drop.
The next customer arrives, and you watch carefully. It seems normal at first as she tells him her order. But then, that very same charming smile appears on his lips as he seems to be complimenting her hair. And just like some sort of cycle, that customer starts giggling too, even reaching over to lightly punch him on the shoulder. And instead of questioning her action, he only seems to grow more confident.
You turn to the side and catch a glimpse of Eric, staring in absolute disgust. You start to join in on the same expression.
So he’s one of those types of guys–the type to flirt with whoever comes his way without paying attention to their actual feelings. You sigh, disappointed. What were you expecting?
Suddenly, your phone lights up. It’s a message from a friend that you were supposed to meet at this place.
i can’t find the cafe :(
You stare in disbelief at your phone before typing back.
??? ok, i’ll stand outside so you can see me
You take one last glance at the barista, who’s now flirting with yet another customer. You roll your eyes before leaving the line, exiting the cafe with slumped shoulders.
–
“So where’s this cute barista?” Younghoon says, much too loud for your liking, as the two of you enter the cafe together this time.
You shush him, afraid that he’ll hear, especially as the line has pretty much disappeared. “I said he’s cute, but you do know he’s one of those,” you frantically reply in a hushed tone.
Younghoon stares at you, clueless. “What do you mea–”
You shake your head. “Let’s talk about this later. He’ll probably hear…” You turn towards the counter, only to realize that he’s gone. You blink. “Huh. Nevermind. I guess he got fired for flirting too much.”
–
The next day comes and the thought of that gorgeous barista has left your mind. Well, momentarily until you walk through the door of the cafe and see him standing right there. You gasp and turn around almost immediately.
Then, you catch your reflection in the window and you clear your throat, straightening up. You scoff to yourself. What am I thinking? You know what he’s like. There’s no way you’re going to try to engage anything now, knowing he’d probably flirt with you just like he did with those other customers.
You fix your clothes and walk up to the counter, albeit a little cautiously.
The man still doesn’t look up from the cash register as he speaks, “What can I get for you today?”
You stand silently, staring at him, trying to get a proper glimpse of his face for… research purposes, of course. Once he notices your silence, that’s when he decides to look up.
And his whole facial expression changes. No longer does he have that confident look in his eyes and a smile on his face like you saw him yesterday. Instead, his eyes are wide, dumbfounded as he searches yours.
You blink, staring back.
His gaze travels across your face before he suddenly clears his throat and looks away. It’s almost like he’s embarrassed… from mere eye contact.
You peer at him suspiciously before finally responding. “Could I get an iced chai latte?”
He continues to look at you without a single word. The only thing that’s similar is the sparkle in his eyes. It’s almost like he’s admiring you. But there’s no way. You’re just a stranger that he’s just met.
Still, you give him a small smile.
That certainly doesn’t seem to help as you start to notice his ears turning red.
“Yes,” he chokes out, rushing to put the order in.
You look at him, your small smile turning more into a wider, fond one. He’s… different today. He’s not that charming, flirty guy anymore. Rather he’s– he’s a mess. And you have no idea why.
“Is that all?” He fumbles before taking the card from your hand. The tips of your fingers brush against his skin, and his eyes widen even further.
“Mhm.” You grin before finally taking a glance at his nametag. “Sunwoo.”
He pauses before looking up. Then, he tries to school that charming smile on his face, and he even attempts to give you a flirty look. But you can easily see past him. “You know my name?”
You raise an eyebrow before pointing to the name card that’s attached to his apron. “Well, I know it now.”
“Oh,” he breathes. “Right.” The tips of his ears are bright red now as he hands you the receipt. “It was nice meeting you…” He looks at you questioningly.
“Y/n,” you reply with a quiet laugh.
Sunwoo smiles, and this smile is much more genuine than all the others that you’ve seen. He gives you a kind look and an awkward wave. “It was nice meeting you, Y/n.”
You smile back.
“See you around, Sunwoo.” You give him a playful look before leaving to pick up your drink, completely missing the way he lets out a shaky breath before practically collapsing over the counter.
–
“He’s different.”
Younghoon wiggles his eyebrows. “How so?”
You hum, perplexed. “It’s like he couldn’t think properly when he saw me.”
“I say that is love at first sight.”
You sputter. “Absolutely not!”
–
Two days pass, and you finally have time to stop by the cafe again. And just as you expected–or, hoped–Sunwoo’s standing behind the counter again. He seems to be distracted by the nearby window, but once he hears your footsteps approaching, his eyes almost light up immediately, much like an eager puppy.
“Hey, Sunwoo,” you say.
“Hey,” he responds, his voice soft as he looks over your outfit. “That color suits you.”
“Does it really?” You smile.
He nods quietly.
“Thank you,” you say, a little flustered. The two of you simply stare at each other, almost stupidly. Of course, you’re the first to snap out of it. “Another iced chai latte, please?”
Sunwoo swallows thickly as he puts in the order once again. As you give him your card, you notice that he looks like he really wants to say something, but you’re not exactly sure what his intentions are.
A few moments of silence pass before he finally takes a deep breath and—
“I’m sorry.”
Your mouth falls open. That’s certainly not what you were expecting.
This barista that you’ve just met a few days ago is already apologizing. For what, you have no idea.
“Is there… is there no iced chai latte left?” You ask dumbly.
“Oh no,” Sunwoo laughs nervously. “I just– here.” He hastily gives you the receipt. “I think I came off weird the first time we met.”
“Ah,” you breathe before letting out a soft laugh. “You mean when you stared at me instead of taking my order?”
“Yes. That.”
“Hm,” you hum, amused. “Well, I wasn’t exactly weirded out if that’s what you’re wondering. I’m just curious.”
Sunwoo gulps. “A-about what?”
“I mean, why stare at me like that? I’ve seen the way you flirt with customers. What’s different with me?” You tilt your head teasingly.
“I just…” He glances off to the side, and that’s when you notice Eric standing in the back, cheering him on. “I thought you were pretty,” he whispers.
Suddenly, it’s your turn to feel embarrassed, heat rushing to your cheeks almost immediately. Still, you remain composed. Well, much more composed than how Sunwoo is right now. He’s a mess. Again.
“You could have told me that.”
“I did, just now.”
“I mean back then.”
“I was nervous,” he blurts out.
You burst out giggling, thoroughly enjoying the way he’s growing more and more embarrassed by the second. After catching your breath, you continue, “Well, I’m flattered. You’re cute yourself.”
Sunwoo gazes at you with wide eyes before looking away immediately. “Thank you,” he mumbles as he glances at you with a small, shy smile.
You grin before giving him a quiet wave. Just as you’re about to head off, Sunwoo suddenly stops you.
“Are you… are you coming back tomorrow?”
You widen your eyes and turn to him. You weren’t planning to, but now, noticing the way he has this adorably hopeful look on his face, you smile and give him a nod. “If you’d like me to.”
“I do. I’d really like that. A lot.”
You can’t help but laugh again. He really is an absolute mess.
–
Just as promised, you visit the cafe the next day. It’s a beautiful day, and as you walk in, you try not to get too distracted by the sunlight hitting the slope of Sunwoo’s nose. You clear your throat, ignoring your heart beat picking up, as you approach him.
“Isn’t the weather beautiful today?” You ask with a bright smile.
Sunwoo’s eyes soften as he looks you over before he nods. “It certainly is.”
You’re not sure if he’s really talking about the weather.
“Anyway…” You continue, leaning your hip against the counter. It’s almost embarrassing how eager you are to keep talking to this barista whom you’ve assumed was just a flirt. But now… he’s so much more than that. He’s sweet and honestly brightens your day more than the sun ever could. “How’s your day been?” You stutter momentarily. “I–I mean I know you’ve just been working but I’m still curious, you know–”
“Red.”
You pause and slowly turn your head towards Sunwoo, baffled.
“What?”
Sunwoo stares back, eyes adorably wide. “What?”
You bite your lip, holding back the laugh that threatens to escape you. “You just said that your day was red.” You glance out the nearby window. “The sky is blue as far as I’m concerned.”
“Oh.” Sunwoo, clearly embarrassed, reaches for a nearby towel and starts vigorously cleaning the counter, trying to avoid eye contact as much as possible. You observe him with amusement. “I thought– I just meant–” He sighs, dropping the towel in defeat before looking back up to you. “Red suits you.”
You widen your eyes and look down, remembering that you are, in fact, wearing red today. A small smirk appears on your lips as you give him a fond look. “That’s not what I asked, Sunwoo.”
“What did you ask?”
“How was your day?”
“Better now that you’re here.”
“Oh,” you breathe. And that laugh that you’ve been trying to hold back for so long finally escapes. You can’t control it as you feel yourself smile wider and wider. Sunwoo is silent, seeming to watch you giggle at his attempt at flirting. Once you catch your breath, you notice the way he’s looking at you like he could melt any moment.
Now that’s what makes your cheeks heat up.
But you won’t mention that.
“You’re quite the flirt aren’t you?” You finally say as Sunwoo continues to look at you with this… adorably hopeful look.
“I’m trying,” he mumbles.
“It’s a good attempt,” you joke. A pause. “Keep at it.”
He looks up at you, eyes sparkling. “Is it working?”
“Nope.”
His shoulders slump, and he gives you a sulky look. Oh, how you love to tease him. In truth, it kind of is working, but not in the typical way that flirting usually affects people. It’s more like you find him cute simply because he’s trying.
“Well… I’ll see you around?” You ask.
Sunwoo gives you yet another sulky look. “Tomorrow?”
See, you really weren’t planning to come to this cafe every day but now… because of him, you guess it’ll just have to be a new routine. You try not to think of the iced chai lattes that will start building up on your credit card bill.
“Sure.”
–
The next day, as you walk into the cafe, you’re wholeheartedly disappointed to find that Sunwoo is nowhere to be seen behind the counter. Eric seems to be busy trying to fix the broken coffee machine. With a sigh, you’re about to turn around when suddenly, you feel a poke on your shoulder.
You jump, whipping your head to the side, only to find Sunwoo standing right in front of you. Yet again, your heart skips a beat as you notice his true height, and oh, he’s much more handsome up close.
It takes you a few more seconds to finally think of anything to say, too mesmerized by this stupidly cute barista standing before you.
“Shouldn’t you be behind the counter?”
You feel yourself cringe on the inside. That’s all I could think of?
Sunwoo grins and shrugs. “I’m on break.”
“Actually,” Eric suddenly calls out. “He saw that you were coming and decided to take a break.”
You turn to look at him, silently questioning if it’s true. Sunwoo’s reddening ears are enough of an answer.
“Well…” You think for a moment before giving him a shy look. “This is great! Because I have something I want to show you.”
Sunwoo doesn’t get a chance to answer as you lead him out of the cafe and towards a nearby patch of grass, lined with round stones, just on the side of the building. You have no idea where this miniature garden came from, but it’s become one of your favorite things ever.
Some flowers have begun to bloom, signalling the coming of the new spring season. They’re colorful, just as you’ve always liked it. The two of you crouch down, observing as they sway against the light breeze.
You turn to look at him, only to realize just how close your faces are. Sunwoo’s gaze is soft as he observes your features with a small smile.
“I… know we’ve only recently met,” you begin, your voice hushed for some reason. “But I just wanted to show you this. I always keep an eye on these flowers, waiting for them to bloom. It’s always so beautiful.”
Sunwoo listens intently, yet it’s clear he’s also very distracted, admiring you. You can see the gears turning in his head as he opens his mouth. “Just–”
“Just like you.” You beat him to it. “Is that what you were going to say?”
Sunwoo gapes at you before groaning, letting out a frustrated, “yes.” He narrows his eyes. “You’re no fun.”
You laugh, bumping your shoulder against his playfully. “Flirting doesn’t work on me.”
“I figured,” he sighs as the both of you stand up.
You’re about to head back into the cafe when Sunwoo suddenly calls your name. You turn around, surprised.
“So what does work?”
“What?”
Sunwoo gives you a hopeful look as he steps closer. His hair blows messily in the wind, and your hand twitches to pat it down.
“If flirting doesn’t work, then what will?” He asks, his voice quiet.
You give him a teasing smile. “I’m not sure. You’ll just have to experiment.” And then you’re quickly turning around, rushing back into the cafe.
Sunwoo rolls his eyes fondly as he follows after you.
–
You learn new things all the time. For example, you’ve learned that Sunwoo’s not only an awkward and endearing mess, but he’s also a very, very determined person. Almost every day that you visit the cafe, he’s come up with some “genius” plan to win you over. It’s like he has some sort of mental checklist, trying new things in hopes of making you smile and perhaps, make you flustered in the process.
One day, you left the cafe with both an iced chai latte and… a flower.
–
You stare in shock at the flower in Sunwoo’s hand. It’s pretty, that’s for sure, with its light purple petals. He holds it out to you with a nervous look on his face.
“Giving gifts now?” You ask, biting back a smile.
Sunwoo nods, and you notice the way his hand shakes ever so slightly. Oh, he really is nervous.
“Is it working?”
“Maybe,” you tease as you gently take it from him, ignoring the spark as your fingers graze each other. “But why this particular one?” You ask, observing it closely in awe.
Sunwoo hums. “It reminded me of you.”
Then, he reaches over and takes it from your hand. You stare in both disbelief and offense. You were pretty sure the flower was meant for you. You’re about to scold him when suddenly, Sunwoo brings the flower up and tucks it into your hair. His touch is gentle as he carefully brushes away any strands that are in the way.
You feel yourself freeze, unable to think until finally, Sunwoo leans back, observing you with an admiring look.
“The color suits you too.”
You’re speechless for a moment before you quickly compose yourself. “Hey, Sunwoo.”
Sunwoo seems to be mesmerized by you as he continues to foolishly smile. “Hm?”
“I’ve noticed something.”
“And that is?”
“You always notice colors when it comes to me.” You recall the countless times that he’s said that a color suits you, whether it be because of your outfit or a pin in your hair. You’re pretty sure you could wear every color that exists and he’d still say the same thing. “Why?” You lean slightly over the counter, peering at him mischievously. “I’m curious.”
Sunwoo’s cheeks are tinted pink as he stares at you. He seems to think for a moment, as if trying to come up with the best answer possible.
“Because…” He adjusts the flower in your hair. “You already catch my eye. You always do. I just think that every color only makes you even more beautiful.”
Your breath catches in your throat as you lean away in surprise. You sincerely hope that you’re not blushing right now because his words certainly… You blink profusely. There’s no way the flirting actually worked on you. You blink again. Was it even flirting? No, he was being genuine.
You look at him, only to find that Sunwoo’s equally as embarrassed. Then, he asks that very same question again.
“Did it work?”
“No,” you lie, unable to control the slight tremor in your voice.
And you expect him to sulk, but instead, he’s giving you a knowing look. He’s smiling now, too. Oh god, he’s noticed.
“Are you sure?” He teases. “Because it seems to have affected you quite a bit–”
“Not at all,” you sputter, hurriedly taking the flower out of your hair. You give him a weak glare before turning around and hurrying out of the cafe.
Oh, and the flower still sits in your vase, becoming the first thing you see every morning. But, you wouldn’t dare tell Sunwoo that.
—
A week passes and the cafe has started to become your most frequently visited place. For no particular reason at all!
The relationship you have with Sunwoo only grows sweeter by the second. Every conversation you have leaves you smiling for hours after. Besides his horrible attempts at swooning you, you adore his naturally sweet personality. He always listens, even when you go off random tangents. There was one time that you were particularly tired and Sunwoo had noticed right away. He lowered his voice into a gentle tone and you could see in his eyes the way he would subtly check if you’re alright.
The vase that you have has slowly started to grow with a colorful collection of flowers, all of which he would say “reminded me of you.” If a flower dies, he would help replace it with a prettier one.
Your heart pounds over and over again when you’re with this ridiculously cute barista.
One day, you walk in, only to see him chatting with a customer. She’s gorgeous, you notice, and that’s when you feel a weird feeling in your chest, as if your heart is twisting.
You watch silently, seeing the way Sunwoo smiles at her and laughs.
Now obviously, it’s not like you two are dating or anything. Perhaps feeling jealousy is just a normal occurrence.
Suddenly, the woman turns around and glances at you. She gives you a sweet smile before turning back around. You watch in disbelief as she leans closer and whispers something into Sunwoo’s ear before walking away to sit down at one of the tables.
With a low sigh, you approach the counter.
“The usual,” you mumble, unable to look the man in the eye.
“Y/n. I have to tell you something.”
Your heart picks up, and you look up at him.
It barely registers, the way he reaches over and gently tucks a strand of hair behind your ear. He gives you a smile, one that makes your breath hitch.
“I think I have a crush on you.”
You widen your eyes and jerk back. “W-what?” You stammer, unable to control the heat that creeps up your neck. “You— you can’t just start a conversation with that! Are you okay?”
Sunwoo nods but you can tell he’s suffering inside, so incredibly embarrassed. He’s unable to look you in the eye as he asks once again, “Did it work?”
You stare incredulously.
Then, he glances to the side frantically, as if to beg for help. You can see it in his gaze as if he’s trying to say, hey, this is not working like you said it would!
You narrow your eyes, wondering who he’s even looking at. “Was it… did Eric put you up to this? You know you should never ask him for any advice.”
“No,” he groans. “It was her.” He nods his head towards that very same woman from before. You look back and see that she’s still sitting there, watching the scene before her unfold with an amused look on her face. “My sister,” Sunwoo continues.
You gape. His sister? Slowly, it dawns on you. “Did you… ask her for advice? About me?”
“No,” Sunwoo scrambles to say. He winces when he notices the way you’re looking at him unimpressed before he sighs. “Maybe. I was hoping her idea would work.”
“Good try.” You smile knowingly. Honestly, you think it’s adorable how he even went to his sister for help. Still, you find yourself a little confused.
Sunwoo’s still looking at you with hope. It’s almost like he’s waiting for an answer.
Instead, you choose to ask a question.
“Did you mean it?”
“What?”
“Did you really mean what you said?”
Sunwoo looks at you in disbelief. “I mean—“ He stops and sighs. “Okay. I need to do this properly. Just give me a chance.” It seems like he’s speaking more to himself than you and now you’re even more confused.
“What are you planning this time—“
Sunwoo reaches over and grabs your already prepared drink because yes, he prepares them in advance for you now. You watch as he picks up a pen and writes on the side of the cup before handing it to you.
You take it, your hand brushing against his briefly—something that the two of you sort of, maybe, do on purpose sometimes.
“See you later, Y/n.” He gives you a nervous smile.
You feel like you have just been played. How could he say that he has a crush on you and then act like nothing happened?
Holding the drink in your hand, you exit the cafe. You’re about to call Younghoon and complain about this whole situation when you suddenly remember that you saw Sunwoo write on the cup. Curiously, you hold it up and read the message he’s left behind.
my break is at 1 tomorrow. walk with me?
p.s. i meant it by the way.
He even drew a small cat winking. It was slightly messy but a good effort.
You read the words over and over again before you feel a stupid smile grow on your face. You bite your lip as a pathetic attempt to stop it as you turn around to see through the window, Sunwoo, head in hands as he rambles to his sister about how he had absolutely messed up.
You sigh fondly.
Oh, how you can’t wait for tomorrow.
–
You arrive exactly before one and you don’t bother to order a drink this time. No amount of caffeine can compare to the energy you feel as you walk in and see that Sunwoo isn’t behind the counter, but rather waiting for you right at the door.
He smiles, always so eager to see you.
“I was hoping you’d read my message.”
You roll your eyes. “How could I not?”
Sunwoo scrunches his nose slightly before gesturing to the door–the one that you just entered through. “So…” He tilts his head unsurely. “Would you care to join me?”
“For a walk?” You ask in a teasing tone.
“For a walk.”
“Of course,” you giggle as the two of you leave together, hands brushing just the slightest.
It’s a beautiful day–the sky is clear, the temperature is just right, and there’s a really, really cute barista right next to you. He’s cute in all sorts of ways. He has big eyes, full lips, and a heart-stopping smile. His hair ruffles adorably in the wind. He rambles about mundane things and gets happy when you respond. He also likes to listen to you quietly, looking at you as if you’re the sole person in the world.
“Would you consider this a date?” You drop the question out of nowhere, just as the two of you turn the corner.
Sunwoo almost trips. Though once he regains his balance, he turns to you and opens his mouth. Then he closes it. He just chooses to quietly nod instead.
You can’t help but smile widely. “I consider it a date too.”
Sunwoo’s eyes widen in pleasant surprise before he grins.
And that’s all there is to it.
Not a single response.
“Sunwoo,” you say, eyeing him carefully. “The silent treatment is not a good method of flirting. It won’t work.”
You watch as Sunwoo stares at you, like he’s planning something–he’s always planning something. And then, in a split second, he suddenly leans in and presses his lips to your cheek before pulling back almost immediately.
“Oh–” You look at him in utter surprise, feeling your skin heat up quickly.
Sunwoo gives you a shy look. “Did that work?”
“No,” you lie. You can still feel it–his lips on your skin, so gentle and full of care. “I can’t believe you did that before we held hands.”
“I can do that too,” the man scrambles to say as he reaches down and grabs your hand, intertwining your fingers. “Anything else?”
You feel like you’re going to faint, and so you stop in your tracks, looking at him helplessly.
Sunwoo notices your confusion, and his eyes soften before he steps closer. “Y/n,” he whispers.
“Hm?” It’s your turn to avoid eye contact.
“I’ve realized something.”
“That you have a crush on me?”
“I’ve realized that a long time ago,” Sunwoo replies with a small smile. “What I mean is that…” He sighs, defeated as he looks down at the ground. “I’m a horrible flirt, especially around you.”
You let out a loud laugh at that. “I’m glad you’re self-aware.” You pause, thinking. “But you know… my first impression of you was that you were a flirty guy. A pretty good one at that.”
Sunwoo shakes his head. “I was practicing.”
“Practicing? For what?”
“For you.”
You gape at him. “Sunwoo.”
“I saw you a while ago. Before we met and while I was training for this job. You walked by, I saw you through the window, and… I couldn’t take my eyes off you. And–” He groans, so clearly embarrassed. “When I asked Eric, he said that you often come to the cafe so I thought… if I practiced, I would be prepared for you.”
“You–” you gawk at him. “What about those people’s feelings? That’s cruel.”
“I call it customer service.” Sunwoo grins. “Though I’ve been lacking ever since I met you. You’re all I think about.”
“Still, if you wanted to practice, you could have practiced on me, not them.”
“I’ve been trying,” Sunwoo whines. “It doesn’t seem to work on you though…” He trails off, and he gives you a knowing look. “Wait, are you jealous?”
“What?” You immediately exclaim. “No! No, I just— I think it’s a bit odd that’s all.”
“Well, if you’re wondering…” Sunwoo steps closer. The two of you are hidden behind a cherry blossom tree, away from any prying eyes. You don’t even know how you ended up there, much too focused on the way Sunwoo’s looking at you with a gaze full of warmth and fondness. “Practically every customer can tell that I really, really like you.”
You scowl. “This is not as romantic as you think it is.”
“But it seems to be working.” Sunwoo brushes a thumb across your cheek, and you’re sure you’re blushing right now. He slowly moves his hand to cup the side of your face. “Does this work as well?” He asks with a nervous smile.
You nod quietly, eyes wide.
“What else can I do to make you realize how much I like you?”
You swallow thickly, your gaze falling to his lips. Sunwoo seems to notice immediately and he smiles.
“I can do that too,” he whispers, looking at your lips as well.
You’re going to lose your mind.
“If you would like, of course.” He gives you a patient, questioning look. Your heartbeat is ridiculously fast, and you can feel your palms grow sweaty. Since when was he… so good at this? These past few weeks, he’s been an absolute loser. So why is it that now he’s doing this so naturally all of a sudden?
“I…” Instead of giving a full response, you simply shut your eyes and wait.
You can hear the soft rustle of the tree’s leaves, as well as Sunwoo’s quiet hum. And soon enough, you feel a soft pair of lips press against yours. It’s a small peck as he leans away immediately. Your eyes flutter open, and you can see that he’s looking at you with wide, adorable eyes.
He lets out a shaky breath as he tilts his head, much like a puppy.
“Did it wor–”
“Yes,” you breathe out as you lean up and kiss him again. The poor man lets out a surprised sound, but he’s quick to return it, smiling against your lips. He even giggles, making your heart feel like it’ll burst.
You kiss him like you’ve been waiting for it, cherishing the moment. Sunwoo kisses you like he adores you. Which, you’re sure he does.
Reluctantly, he pulls away, giving you a lovesick gaze. “Does that mean you like me too?”
“What do you think?” You smile. “I always have.”
“Really? Wait then–”
“It’s always worked,” you continue, laughing softly. “You know I’ve just been teasing you this whole time. Your flirting… it kind of sucks, but–” You lean up again, this time to press a kiss to his cheek before whispering into his ear, “I like that you try.”
“I like you,” Sunwoo stupidly blurts out.
“I know.” You laugh. “I like you too.”
“Oh,” he breathes out, looking like he’s gone weak in the knees. “This is amazing. The whole time, I thought I was messing up and weirding you out and–” Impulsively, he leans in to kiss you again. This time, it’s more passionate as he uses both his hands to cup your face. He moves his lips slowly, as if he’s trying to memorize what you prefer. One of his hands moves down to your waist as he deepens the kiss ever so slightly. “You’re beautiful,” he whispers as you break apart, breathless.
You smile softly. “Thank you. And you’re a great kisser.”
“So it worked,” he jokes.
“Always.”
“But…” He shyly reaches down for your hand. “Are you sure? I could always kiss you more so that you can make sure.” He gives you a foolish smile.
You groan. “Sunwoo.”
“Hm?” He seems to be in a daze, focused solely on your features, admiring each and every one of them.
“You know I like you as you are. There’s no need to flirt with me,” you explain.
“Ah,” Sunwoo sighs, and he grumbles. “So what you’re saying is that you like when I’m a mess.”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. If you want a kiss, you can just have it.”
“Good to know,” he mumbles as he leans in, taking your advice and kissing you again. “Because I can’t help being a mess when I’m around you.”
“And that’s okay,” you giggle, getting slightly cut off as Sunwoo kisses you over and over again. His lips are soft as he captures your bottom lip between them. You feel the cherry blossom petals fall around the two of you. You peek your eye open and see that one has landed on the top of Sunwoo’s head, making you giggle against his lips before you shut your eyes again and allow yourself to fall.
Well, not literally.
But fall for him? Most definitely.
Suddenly, that’s when you remember something.
“Hey, Sunwoo,” you mumble. “When does your break end?”
Sunwoo freezes and he widens his eyes as he pulls out his phone and reads the time. He gives you a sheepish look.
“Ten minutes ago.”
You gasp, shoving him away, much to his disappointment. “Sunwoo!” You scold. “You need to go back to work. Enough of being a loser, please.”
“But–” Sunwoo doesn’t even try to deny the fact that you had straight up called him a loser. Instead, he pouts. Yes, he pouts at you with sad eyes.
You won’t lie and say that you almost gave in.
You reach up and fix his hair, messy from the light breeze. Then, just to satisfy his sulkiness, you give him a quick kiss on the lips before lightly pushing him away. “Seriously. You can’t get fired already. I’ll see you tomorrow, alright?”
His eyes light up at the sound of the word “tomorrow.” He nods and gives you the cutest smile you’ve ever seen. “Okay, Y/n.”
You laugh softly as you watch Sunwoo walk down the sidewalk. But rather, he’s more… skipping down the sidewalk. He even stops to scream into his hand before continuing, acting like nothing’s happened.
See this, this is the type of Sunwoo you adore.
–
Epilogue
Sunwoo is a horrible flirt.
It’s like one of those facts that you can just never get around. If you ever give him a smile, he will absolutely melt and even hide behind whoever’s next to him, whether that’s his sister or his fellow coworker, Eric. If you tell him that he looks handsome, he’ll try to compliment you back, but his words are incomprehensible with how flustered he already is.
He blushes, especially on the tip of his ears, endearingly so. You like to give him a quick kiss just to see them deepen in color.
Sunwoo is a horrible flirt.
Yet he still tries to this day.
No matter how many times you tell him that he doesn’t need to tell you a cheesy pick-up line or pull out a crumpled rose from his pocket, he just keeps on trying. You have no idea why. To tell the truth, you think it’s kind of cute. But, don’t tell him that or else he’ll probably lose his mind.
He just always claims it’ll work one day.
“Did it hurt when you fell from the sk–”
“No.”
Sunwoo sighs as he scooches closer to you on the bench that the two of you are sitting on. He leans his shoulder against yours as he looks up to the setting sun. You lean into him as well, smiling with contentment.
“Please indulge me,” he asks with a pleading look. “Let me win just this once.”
You scrunch your nose and shake your head. “It’ll never work.”
He narrows his eyes and gives you a teasing look right after. “I thought you said it always did–”
You stutter and slap a hand over his mouth.
“I lied.”
“Sure.”
You stay quiet, too embarrassed to say anything after.
So… sometimes, his efforts pay off. Rarely. Don’t get his hopes up too much.
But besides all that, Sunwoo shows a lot more of his true self.
And that is– he is an absolute clingy mess.
He’s almost always hugging you, holding you close in some way. He claims he’s doing it just because he’s missed you. But you two see each other almost every day.
If you tease him, he’ll get shy.
He’s shy, but he’s never shy enough to tell you that you look pretty, that a certain color suits you, that he really wants to kiss you right now.
“I kind of look like a mess,” you grumble, looking at him incredulously.
“Please,” he whispers, stepping closer. “I don’t mind. Besides, to me… you look gorgeous.”
You can’t help but give him a small smile. “Well, if you’d like to–”
“I do, I really do,” he replies desperately as he walks forward, kissing you like he means it. Yes, he’s always a good kisser, it’s almost sickening how he manages to make you feel like your floating with how he always cups your jaw and moves his lips in such a sensual way.
He likes it when you tug his hair when the two of you are kissing.
But don’t go too much into it or else he’ll get shy again.
Sunwoo is both a horrible flirt and a clingy mess.
But perhaps, that’s why you like him so much.
–
It’s a cloudy, almost depressing day as you walk into the cafe. That’s when you get stopped in your tracks, realizing that there’s a gigantic line. You groan internally, feeling a sense of déjà vu, reminding you of when you first set your eyes on that cute barista who’s now your boyfriend.
You squint your eyes and spot a pink tulip that Sunwoo’s set aside, one that he’s probably going to give to you once you eventually reach the counter.
You expect him not to see you as he converses with the customer in front of him with a charming smile. But then, he looks up and he notices you almost immediately. He always manages to find you in any room, no matter how many people there are.
wc: 0.7k, tags: hurt/comfort, established relationship, anxiety/overthinking, unreliable narrator, juyeon calls reader baby, reader is implied to be shorter, SFW
listen to: emei - 9 lives
a/n: i'm kinda obsessed with that song and i've been meaning to write a little drabble for it for ages and now i finally did~
masterlist
You stare at the notification on your phone screen in horror.
where are you?
Right. You were supposed to be home early today, so Juyeon and you could make dinner together. But you forgot.
There’s a cold, heavy feeling wrapping around you, something between dread and doom as you type out a hasty response, and then another and another. Your fingers are shaking as you type away, desperately trying to explain yourself and make it all okay again.
I’m so sorry!!!
I only saw your message now
Oh god you must have waited so long
I’m really so sorry
I was with my mom and forgot to look at my phone
I didn’t mean to stand you up
I’m sorry!!!
Despite his message being from almost an hour ago, he responds pretty much immediately.
It’s okay, baby, it’s just dinner
Did you have a good time with your mom?
I already cooked, so come home quickly and eat, okay?
And don’t worry
Don’t worry. That’s such a Juyeon way to respond. You can practically hear his soft and gentle voice saying it. But you don’t feel reassured reading the messages. Instead, it’s like you’re dying a bit every time he tells you not to worry, because you know inside that he’s keeping track. He’s keeping track of everything you’re doing wrong. He’s keeping track of whether you’re good enough. It’s just a matter of time until you’ll have messed up one too many times, until he’ll cut you off. You can’t calm down on your whole way home, anxiety crawling through your blood and veins. It’s always like this, whenever you make a mistake, you can’t help but wonder how many times you can say sorry, how many times he’ll take you back. It feels like he’s given you nine lives, and you’re down to one.
When you step into your shared apartment, you can hear the TV running from the living room. You don’t say hello, because you don’t know how. You’re scared. You close the door and take off your shoes and coat. And then you just stand in the dark for a while, trying to gather the courage to step inside. Before you can bring yourself to move though, you hear Juyeon’s steps crossing the living room, and then he’s standing in the doorway. When he spots you he tilts his head to the side.
“Hey, baby,” he says softly, “are you not coming in?”
You swallow around the lump in your throat. “No, I’m coming,” you press out, but you don’t move.
He steps a little closer to you instead, stopping just a few inches in front of you. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry,” you breathe out.
“What are you sorry for, baby?” Juyeon carefully tucks some hair behind your ear, “Is this about coming late today?”
You nod timidly.
“I told you, don’t worry. It happens.”
He says that, and yet you feel that familiar ache in your chest, that feeling of only being off the hook for now.
“I should have paid better attention,” you whisper, “I’m sorry.”
He cups your face and looks at you with a frown etched onto his features. “You forgot the time. It’s okay.”
“No, but I—I keep messing up,” you stutter, because you know it’s not okay, not really. He’s keeping score, secretly, and you don’t think you’ve been winning.
“You don’t keep messing up, baby.” He leans in, brushing his lips against your forehead in a gentle kiss before looking in your eyes again, “and even if you were, no one’s counting. The only one keeping score is you.”
You stare at him with wide eyes. “What?” is all you manage to press out, taken too off guard by the way he seems to be seeing right through you.
“You’re allowed to make mistakes. I’m not going to keep track of every little mishap of yours.” His thumbs brush over your cheeks, wiping away invisible tears, “So, don’t do it either.”
“But I—”
“I know. But I mean it when I tell you not to worry. So don’t worry, okay?” He smiles softly and a timid smile tugs on your lips too. Maybe you can allow yourself to feel a little reassured for once.
“Okay.”
“That’s it.” Juyeon pulls you into his chest and you feel him leave little pecks on the crown of your head. “And now let’s warm up some dinner for you, hm?”
masterlist ♡ pls consider reblogging if you enjoyed this ♡
17th fic for my anniversary event | requested by @blizzardfluffykpop
wc: 0.4k, fluff, hurt/comfort, long distance relationship, SFW
a/n: happy belated birthday to my loml kevin<3
event masterlist | tbz masterlist
You can’t deny that you’ve been full of nerves these past weeks. The thought of seeing Kevin again after almost two years made you nervous. What if he changed? What if you did? What if your perfect puzzle pieces don’t fit together anymore? It wasn’t like you haven’t been in touch at all, but seeing each other in person is just different. Especially because calls have been sparse too, time zones making the distance feel even more grave. And the thought that maybe even after his return the difference in time zones could remain scares you. So, you’ve been anxious for weeks already and the anxiety is at its absolute peak now that you’re at the airport, waiting for him to come through that sliding door. Every new person coming out just makes your uneasiness grow. You’ve made a silly little sign that you’re holding up with shaking hands: Welcome back, my love, but your mind is clouded with thoughts and fears that perhaps he won’t be yours anymore.
But then, there he is. His hair is shorter than when you last saw him, but he’s wearing that grey hoodie that you bought together ages ago. Kevin’s gaze finds you immediately in the crowd of people waiting. He breaks into a wide smile the moment your eyes meet and it feels like it’s just him, it’s Kevin. Your Kevin. All the anxiety you’ve been feeling just dissipates, replaced by a feeling of excitement that makes your heart race. You’ve waited so long to see him again, and now that he’s there you don’t want to waste a single second anymore. You don’t even notice dropping the sign you made as you rush over. It’s like your body is acting on its own. You don’t want to stand still, you just want to move, have to move. Kevin seems to be feeling the same, hurrying and almost losing his suitcase on the way over to you. And then you find yourself wrapped up in his arms, your own hands clinging to his back as you bury yourself in his chest and breathe him in. It seems like you worried for nothing. Because even now, your love is still the same. Maybe he did change in the two years he’s been gone, and maybe you changed too. But there’s no doubt in your mind now that Kevin is it, he’s your happy ever after. Because even if the world changes, your love is timeless.
16th fic for my anniversary event | requested by anon
wc: 0.75k, angst, fluff, time travel/loop, inspired by lovely runner, SFW; warnings: death/injury, blood
event masterlist | tbz masterlist
“Excuse me,” you say with a sweet smile that fills Juyeon’s chest with a sense of nostalgia that’d be hard to explain to anyone else, “I think this is yours.” You hand him the letter you’ve been holding onto that must’ve gotten mixed up with your own mail.
“Thanks.” He returns your smile and takes the letter, even when he’d much rather hug you and kiss you and hold you close. But he knows he can’t.
“I’m the new neighbour, by the way. Y/n.”
I know that, I know your name.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Lee Juyeon.”
“Juyeon, huh?” You humm softly, almost like you’re trying out the name on your tongue, almost like you’re saying it for the first time. Though, of course, it is the first time for you. “That’s a beautiful name.”
It’s sweet that you say this every time. There is something comforting about the consistency, about the way you love his name no matter how many times you meet him for the first time. It makes him feel assured that maybe your love for him is just as consistent, that maybe you will fall in love with him in every timeline too.
“Thank you,” he says and he knows his smile is too fond for a first meeting, but he can’t help himself.
“I’m sorry,” you choke out despite the blood gathering in the corners of your lips and the tears streaming down your face, “I’m so sorry.”
“No, it’s me that's sorry,” Juyeon whispers, gently cradling you in his lap, “You have nothing to be sorry about, my love.”
“You got hurt because of me,” you insist. And it’s ridiculous, it’s so ridiculous, because Juyeon barely even got a scratch in his futile attempt to save you, and yet you’re apologizing as if he’s the one barely breathing. It’s hard to see you like this, no matter how many times it happens. But he can’t leave either, can’t bear the thought of leaving you alone like this, even if this timeline gets erased the moment he’s gone. Juyeon could never abandon you.
He carefully wipes away your tears, ignoring the way they are mixing with the blood and dirt on your cheeks. “I’d do it again,” he says and he knows it’s true because he already has, so so many times. And he will do it once more.
Because it’s you.
Because being with you feels like spring after a long winter. Even if things get erased over and over, even if you don’t remember him, even if he’s a stranger to you every single time—he’ll do it all again. He’ll wait for you no matter how long it takes and he doesn’t mind falling slowly, as long as you’re falling in love.
“I’ll do it again,” he whispers, but he’s not sure you can still hear him. Your eyes are unfocused and blurry and your breathing is flat. He knows he’ll see you again, but he still can’t stop the tears from welling up in his eyes. The knowledge of meeting you again is comforting, and yet it doesn’t take away the pain of losing you. Maybe, he thinks to himself as he watches the light in your eyes disappear, maybe the next time will be the last. Maybe in his next life he can finally make everything right and choose a path where you get to live.
The pink petals falling to the ground almost look like pink snow, making the world feel soft and peaceful. It’s supposed to be lucky to catch one in your palm, and Juyeon thinks a little luck won’t hurt, so he outstretches his arm, closes his eyes and waits for a moment. Nothing happens, no petal falls into the palm of his hand. Instead, someone bumps into him from behind, taking him off guard and almost making him stumble forward.
“Sorry,” a familiar voice immediately stutters out. “I was lost in thought.”
“No,” he says, slowly turning around to see your apologetic face, “don’t worry about it.” You look a little disheveled, scarf in disarray and a bunch of things that seemingly didn’t fit into your bag pressed to your chest. A single flower petal got caught in your hair, and Juyeon almost automatically reaches out to remove it.
“How lucky,” he says, holding it between his fingers before placing it in your palm.
“Lucky?”
“It’s supposed to be.”
“Hm,” you hum, “I guess it is, then. I’m y/n, by the way.”
synopsis: on valentine’s day, younghoon wanted to do something special for you. so, he prepares a homemade dinner and decorates the dorm with candles and roses, hoping to create a memorable evening.
pairing: younghoon x reader
genre: fluffy fluff, established relationship
wc: 586
a/n: hi there! thank you so much for reading! i hope you enjoy, please show your support by liking and reblogging. thank you <3
wanna go back? ↺ [tbz masterlist]
banner by @cafekitsune
it was a chilly february afternoon, and younghoon found himself pacing in the living room of the dorm, feeling a little more nervous than usual. he had always been the type to keep things low-key, but this valentine’s day, he wanted to do something special for you—the one person who made his heart skip a beat every time you smiled.
after all, it wasn’t every day that he had the chance to share a day like this with someone who meant so much to him.
he glanced at the clock and took a deep breath. he had planned something simple, but from the look of things, he still had a little more to prepare. setting up a small table with a vase of fresh roses, he quickly ran to the kitchen to check on the meal he’d been working on all afternoon—a homemade dinner, made with extra care. he wanted everything to be perfect.
just as he was about to start preparing the dessert, he heard the doorbell ring. his heart raced as he quickly went to open the door, only to find you standing there, holding a bag of chocolates in your hand and a smile that made everything in the world feel right.
“happy valentine’s day, younghoon!” you said, your voice soft but full of warmth. “i brought you something sweet.”
he blinked for a second, then grinned, relieved that you were here. “you didn’t have to. i’ve got something for you too,” he said, motioning for you to come inside. he guided you to the dining table, where the candles flickered gently, casting a romantic glow over the room.
you sat down, and younghoon took a deep breath, feeling the excitement bubble up inside him. “i’ve been practicing cooking for you,” he confessed, pulling out a dish he had been working hard on. “i hope it’s okay. it’s not perfect, but…”
you smiled warmly at him. “i’m sure it’s amazing,” you said, reaching across the table to squeeze his hand.
and it was. the meal was delicious, and as the evening went on, the conversation flowed easily, just like it always did when you were together. but what truly made the night perfect wasn’t just the food or the carefully arranged decorations—it was the fact that, for both of you, being together was all that mattered.
after dinner, you exchanged small gifts—chocolates, a handwritten note, and a silly keychain you had found that reminded you both of an inside joke. then, as the evening drew to a close, younghoon stood up, his heart full. he walked over to a small box on the counter and handed it to you.
“this is for you,” he said shyly.
you opened the box and found a delicate bracelet inside, simple but beautiful, with a tiny heart charm that gleamed in the soft light.
“do you like it?” younghoon asked nervously, his gaze soft but unsure.
you looked up at him, your eyes bright. “i love it,” you whispered. “thank you.”
younghoon couldn’t help but smile as he took your hand in his, the warmth of the moment wrapping around both of you like a cozy blanket.
for him, valentine’s day wasn’t about grand gestures or expensive gifts—it was about showing you just how much you meant to him. and in that quiet, peaceful evening together, surrounded by laughter, love, and the soft glow of the candles, younghoon realized that this was the kind of valentine’s day that would stay in his heart forever.
