(Coffee)

Yoongi had thought that working in a coffee shop would be like Friends. Cool, interesting people coming in with dramatic stories, funny and cute family moments, pretty guys and girls all over the place. He would admit that the show was most of the reason he wanted a job as a barista in the first place.

But, boy, did he misjudge that. It was nothing like Friends. Most of his day was spent trying to argue with rude and unreasonable customers about the most trivial little things. His hours were horribly long and the pay was far less than he expected. All of his clothes smelt like coffee and, while that was quite nice at first, it got sickening after a few months. All the other baristas were sultry and bad-tempered, just like most of the customers. Yoongi didn't understand it.

One sunny weekday afternoon, Yoongi was supposed to be working. He was meant to be tidying the storage cupboard but it was all pretty much clean so there wasn't really much to do. He just spaced out, letting his mind wander to nowhere in particular. Someone asked him a question at some point and he answered on autopilot. They didn't get many customers on nice days; on rainy days, people thought it was aesthetic to sit and do work in a café so business ramped up to an almost unbearable level. He relished this time where he wasn't doing anything.

Eventually, someone came back and told him to go up to the front counter again. Yoongi doubted there was anyone there, either, but he went anyway. A change of scenery would be nice at least. He trudged back up to the counter and got one of the nicest changes in scenery he had ever experienced.

One thing that was similar to Friends was the mics at the side of the room. Anyone could go and play something for the customers if they asked for permission, which was always given. Very occasionally, people used it. The talent ranged and Yoongi didn't like to comment on aspiring musicians; however, a lot of the customers did and that's why no one liked to play.

But today, someone was feeling brave. He was tall with sandy brown hair and a cute oversized sweater that bunched up at the wrists. He had set his guitar down as he fiddled with the mics. There were only about five other people in the shop but he didn't seem to mind. Yoongi watched him curiously. It wasn't often that people played anymore and he was interested to see what they'd do.

He didn't introduce himself. He didn't say anything. He just started to play. It was a quiet and calm melody that floated dreamily through the café. It made everything seem prettier, more like everything was sketched out in a comic book than actually there. The sunlight drizzled through the large window and it felt warmer as Yoongi listened to the guitar. The whole place felt just a little bit less boring and more… picturesque.

Yoongi had no idea how long he was there for but he didn't mind it at all. He could watch that man play forever. He had such focus on the instrument and what he was playing. Yoongi wondered if he was just as lost in the sound as he assumed everyone else was.

At some point, Yoongi's shift ended and he was told to go home. The guitar-player hadn't left yet and he was reluctant to leave before saying goodbye but he didn't have much of a choice. He didn't listen to music on the way home, wanting to keep the tune in his head. He hummed it incessantly until he got home. He flopped down on the couch and stared at the ceiling.

"Hyung, you good?" asked his roommate, Hoseok. Yoongi just rolled over.

"Learn how to play the guitar, please," he said into a pillow. Hoseok laughed at him. Yoongi pouted, not that Hoseok could see. "Do it or I'll kill you," he mumbled. He looked up to see Hoseok still smiling.

"What happened, hyung?" he asked and Yoongi sighed, rolling onto his back again.

"Cute guy, amazing guitar. I couldn't concentrate on anything when he was playing. It was just so nice," he remembered. He always had strong reactions to music but this was a lot, even for him. He was just drifting, carried by that guitar.

"Okay, when you're done drooling over a guitar, I made dinner," Hoseok grinned. Yoongi just gave him a thumbs up and continued to lie on the couch.

The next day as he walked into work, he was disappointed to see lots more people in the shop. It was cloudier and colder today so more people were taking shelter. Maybe the crowd would scare off the guitar guy. Yoongi frowned even at the thought.

He didn't come that day. Or the next day. In fact, it was a few weeks before Yoongi saw him again. He had gotten over it; or at least, he thought he had. Then he saw a baggy sweater over broad shoulders and his heart leapt. It was him. And Yoongi's shift had another two hours left. Again, there was no introduction, just the gentle beginning of a familiar melody. Yoongi melted all over again.

It was still a little bit busy in the café so he had to take orders and serve drinks and clear tables, all the while being uncharacteristically quiet to hear the guitar better. One of his co-workers even noticed and asked if he was okay. Yoongi just responded with a nod and a dizzy smile.

After a while, the guitar guy stopped playing. There was light applause and he bowed politely. He set his guitar down, ruffled his hair and walked up to the counter. Yoongi immediately started paying attention and smiled.

"Hi, can I get a caramel macchiato, please?" he asked, a lot nicer than a lot of customers usually did.

"Of course. What's your name?" Yoongi asked, trying to conceal his eagerness.

"Seokjin." Yoongi set right to work making the drink and his brain whirred. Do I talk to him? Do I stay quiet? Do I make small talk? Do I compliment his playing? Do I introduce myself? Am I blushing? Don't spill the drink, you idiot. While his internal monologue was battling with itself, his mouth got fed up with him and said,

"I really liked your playing, by the way." Yoongi instantly regretted saying that and was certain he was blushing. But Seokjin just smiled.

"Thanks. Not the most receptive audience here, but it's okay," he replied and Yoongi was about to combust.

"Not many people are brave enough. But that just makes it even more special when someone like you plays well." Yoongi wasn't even thinking about what he was saying anymore but he was conscious that he had finished making the drink and was stalling. He handed it over and lingered. "Will you be back?" he asked. Seokjin took the cup and shrugged.

"Sure, if you want me to," he smiled and Yoongi blushed.

"That'd be nice," he mumbled as Seokjin walked off to collect his stuff. Yoongi stared until someone tapped him on the shoulder to tell him he was off duty. He managed to pull himself together and go back to organise the cupboards. An hour passed and his shift ended. Again, Yoongi tried to keep the music in his mind.

He got back home and fell down onto the sofa again. Hoseok was sitting on the other chair and he sighed, wondering whether or not to ask. Regardless, Yoongi whined,

"The guitar guy's name is Seokjin. He's soooo cute." Hoseok giggled.

"Hyung, have you got a crush?" he asked and Yoongi nodded into the cushion. "Awww. Have fun with that. Dinner's in the kitchen."

That night, Yoongi wanted to go to sleep. But the sound of the guitar kept pulling him back and opening his eyes. It would have been annoying if it wasn't so beautiful. After a while, he got up and walked over to his keyboard. He sat down and plugged in his headphones so he wouldn't wake up Hoseok. He kept replaying the notes until he could replicate the rhythm on the piano and then set to work. It took a while, but eventually, he had an accompaniment. He was too tired to remember why he was working out an accompaniment for this at 2 am but he had it written out by 3. Then, satisfied, he went to bed.

A week later, Seokjin walked into the café again. It was raining so the place was pretty packed and Yoongi had a lot to do; he still froze when he saw Seokjin begin to set up. He carried on serving people, flicking glances to Seokjin every two seconds or so. When he started to play that same beautiful tune, Yoongi's fingers danced across the counter, subconsciously playing the backing music he had composed. It made him happier.

When it finished, more people applauded and Yoongi saw Seokjin smile proudly. Instead of putting his guitar down and coming up to buy coffee like Yoongi was expecting, he began to play something else. It was different and just as pleasing as the other one but with one spectacular alteration. Seokjin began to sing.

Softly and timidly at first, but he still sounded like honey. Yoongi quickly took out his phone and started recording it. He didn't want to forget a single word. The song was sweet and sad and overflowing with emotions. Yoongi hadn't heard it before and wondered if Seokjin had written it himself. Because that was incredibly impressive and just maybe the most attractive thing Yoongi had ever heard. He leaned on the counter, captivated by the fleeting song. When it was over, he applauded like everyone else.

This time, Seokjin put his guitar down and started to walk over to the counter. Yoongi panicked internally and started making a caramel macchiato as quickly and carefully as he could. Seokjin reached the counter and said,

"Hi. Can I get a caramel macchiato?" Yoongi placed it in front of him almost instantly. Seokjin smiled,

"Wow, that was fast," he commented, taking the drink. Yoongi just looked up at him like a little child.

"I really like your song," he grinned quietly and Seokjin laughed.

"Really? I didn't think it was that good but the people in here seem nice today," he said, looking around. Yoongi was probably about to say something embarrassing but before he could, Seokjin smiled again, "Thanks," and walked away. Yoongi stared after him until one of his co workers tapped him on the shoulder.

"I've been calling you," she said. She followed Yoongi's gaze and giggled. "You have a crush on him, too, huh?" she asked and Yoongi choked.

"What? No!" he defied strongly but she clearly didn't believe him.

"It's okay. I like him too. He's so dreamy," she cooed, staring after the handsome guitarist. Yoongi was speechless.

"Im Yena, back to work!" their manager called.

"Yes, sir!" Yena squeaked and disappeared back into storage. Yoongi sighed. Yena was pretty and confident. If she wanted to ask Seokjin out, she could probably succeed. Yoongi wouldn't stand a chance. He smirked. But he could sure as hell try. He stepped out from behind the counter and walked across the café. About halfway there, he was already regretting it. Oh well.

"Um, hey," he said and Seokjin turned around. Yoongi swallowed and took a deep breath. "I, uh, really liked your playing so I, sort of, worked out a piano accompaniment for it. I don't know if you wanted to hear it or…" Yoongi mumbled the last part and he doubted Seokjin heard it. Nevertheless, the man smiled.

"Y-you wrote an accompaniment?" he asked and Yoongi nodded shyly. Seokjin laughed, "How?"

"I just listened to it and kept it in my head. I nearly have perfect pitch so I could work it out like that," Yoongi shrugged.

"Whoa, that's cool. I-I'd love to hear it, but I guess there's no piano here," he pouted, looking around.

"There's one at the café two blocks from here," Yoongi remembered. Seokjin beamed.

"Cool. Do you have time after work?" he asked and Yoongi was certain he was blushing. He nodded through the embarrassment and Seokjin took a sip of his drink. "When does your shift end?" Yoongi checked his watch and hummed,

"Right about now. Wait here, I'll be two minutes." Seokjin nodded and Yoongi ran back to the counter and whipped his apron off. His shift didn't actually end for another ten minutes but he ran into Yena on his way to the back. He stopped her. "Yena, cover for me, I've got a date," he asked hastily and she skipped out to the front willingly. Yoongi felt a little guilty but it was drowned in adrenaline and delight. He threw his apron onto a hook, slung his bag over his shoulder, fixed his hair and walked back out.

Seokjin was standing by the door, guitar slung over his shoulder, when Yoongi reappeared. He held the door open for Yoongi, who bowed awkwardly and shuffled through. He caught a glimpse of Yena on the way out and tried to look as apologetic as possible. She didn't look too mad, thankfully.

It was a short walk to the other café and it was only slightly awkward. Yoongi asked Seokjin where he learned to play and was shocked to hear that he had taught himself.

"But you're so good…" he mumbled and Seokjin laughed.

"What about you? Where did you learn the piano?" he asked and Yoongi shrugged, trying to think of a way to make it sound interesting.

"School. They said I was really good in lessons so my mom got me a private teacher when I was, like, eight? I got my diploma a few years ago," he explained.

"Whoa, so you're… really good," Seokjin summarised with a small chuckle. Yoongi felt his ears go red.

"Yeah, I guess so. Come on, let's go in," he said, realising that they were at the café already. The piano was small and not in brilliant condition. Yoongi played a dramatically broken chord and smiled at the fact that it was in tune, at least. It was tucked away in the corner of the place, out of use as a performance instrument. That made Yoongi a little sad, in a way. Seokjin unpacked his guitar and looked at Yoongi.

"Don't tell me you can play it without music," he laughed and Yoongi echoed him.

"I can. It's all I've been playing for the last week, so I think I've got it memorised. Hold on, there's a bit at the start…" He played the first few bars and then stopped. "And then that's where you come in," he told him. Seokjin nodded determinedly. Yoongi played the beginning again slightly quieter and this time, Seokjin started playing along. It was so pretty and Yoongi's hands almost faltered; he didn't, forcing himself to keep going. It sounded so gorgeous with the guitar and the piano flowing with each other and Yoongi quickly became lost in the music again. Nothing in the world existed except him and the piano, Seokjin and his guitar.

Eventually, the piece had to end and Yoongi finished with a flourish that he held on for a second longer than necessary. He was surprised to hear light applause and he turned around quickly to see that the few people on the tables near them had been listening as well. He looked up at Seokjin, who was beaming prettily. Yoongi grinned, really happy that it had gone well, for some reason.

"Not bad for a first practice," Seokjin commented, his pretty brown eyes glinting with pride.

"Wanna come back to mine for more practice?" Yoongi offered, his boldness surprising himself. Seokjin smiled.

"I'd like that."