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The campus coffee shop had a calming atmosphere. Yoongi loved the smell of coffee and when he first walked in when the semester started, he felt calmer. It was a sweet smell, not too overpowering; it brought him back to his home in Daegu when his dad would make coffee in the mornings. It comforted him when he was feeling homesick. Quiet instrumental music played in the background, adding to the calmness of the coffee shop.
Overall, it was a nice place to do homework when he couldn’t focus in his dorm room. It was also a nice place to escape when things got too stressful. It was also a great place to hang out with his friends during lunch. Sometimes they needed a quieter environment to talk as the campus cafeteria was loud and overcrowded at times.
There was also another benefit to visiting the campus coffee shop.
And his name was Hoseok.
Yoongi had been crushing on Hoseok since the second week of classes began. He walked in and was greeted by a gorgeous, cheerful man who smiled sweetly at him. Yoongi had never seen a man more pretty. His voice sounded smooth like honey too. He had glanced at the barista’s nametag when he was taking his order and committed it to memory. Yoongi stuttered out his name when Hoseok asked. His heart skipped a beat and his face became flush when Hoseok flashed another smile at him.
Yoongi shyly waited for Hoseok to make his drink. He observed Hoseok working and smiled every time he made these cute little sound effects while making his drink. Things were going so well, until it came time to pick up his drink. It went like this:
When their hands touched for the first time, Yoongi felt electricity surge through his hand after brushing against Hoseok’s. Yoongi’s hand jerked in surprise, which caused him to knock his drink over, spilling all over the countertop. He sputtered out apology after apology, but Hoseok waved them away.
“Don’t worry, Yoongi-ssi,” Hoseok told him, smiling at him gently. “It happens all the time. Are you alright?” Yoongi nodded his head, his face feeling flush. He was being so kind to him after making a mess of his drink. What a great first impression, he thought to himself. He offered to help clean, but Hoseok turned him down.
“How old are you?” Yoongi asked bravely as Hoseok cleaned the counter. He looked to be about Yoongi’s age, but maybe a bit younger than him.
“I turned twenty in February,” he answered. “You?”
“I’m your hyung then,” Yoongi said. “I turned twenty-one in March.” Hoseok made an excited noise, but said nothing else. A silence fell between them until Hoseok placed a new drink on the counter.
“Here you go, hyung,” Hoseok said with a smile on his face. “I made a new drink for you. I hope to see you again soon.” Yoongi’s mind was spinning after that encounter. He wanted to run out of the coffee shop and never return, but there was something about Hoseok that intrigued him. He was so caring and thoughtful, asking if Yoongi was okay. He even made Yoongi a new drink when he didn’t need to as it was Yoongi’s fault it got spilled in the first place. He also couldn’t turn down a chance to see the smile on the barista’s face.
From then on, he knew he needed to see this man again and he became a frequent visitor.
A couple days later, he saw Hoseok at the coffee shop again. Yoongi brought Jin and his boyfriend, Jungkook with him this time. They all had a little time to spare before heading to their next class. The bell above the shop rang out when they entered. He saw Hoseok glance his way while cleaning the counter. His face lit up when they made eye contact. He greeted them with a cheery smile on his face.
“Hyung, you came back!” Yoongi nodded and blushed at the attention. He quickly introduced the barista to Jin and Jungkook. Hoseok took their orders and Jin paid, saying that he was treating them that day.
They were waiting for their drinks when Jin started making dad jokes. “Hey, Hoseok-ssi, what is it called when someone steal’s another person’s drink?” Yoongi and Jungkook groaned in unison. Yoongi was still feeling slightly embarrassed about the mishap from the day before and now Jin was telling bad jokes. “A mugging!” Jin laughed loudly at his own joke, slapping his leg. Jungkook rolled his eyes, but a small smile tugged at his lips.
And then he hears the most beautiful sound. It was like a symphony to his ears. Hoseok laughed so hard that he almost hit his face on the counter when he bent over.
His laughter just fueled Jin more. He recited another dad joke making Hoseok almost cry with laughter. Yoongi couldn’t help it; he felt his mouth curl up in a smile watching Hoseok and there was a fluttering sensation in his belly. Hoseok was just too damn beautiful when he laughed.
Yoongi felt his face go hot again when Hoseok called out his name, still smiling widely from the laughter. His hand brushed lightly against Hoseok’s and he felt the same electricity as the first time with no coffee spill, thankfully. Yoongi would never hear the end of it from his friends, if he did. He glanced down at his drink shyly and thanked him.
They sat down at a table and Yoongi immediately hid his head in his hands.
“You got it bad, Yoongi-chi,” Jin commented, which Yoongi knew. Yoongi didn’t think it would be possible to fall for a man so quickly, but Hoseok just had a special effect on him.
-
Yoongi wanted to be able to make Hoseok laugh some time, so he could hear that beautiful sound again. He almost went to Jin asking for some of his jokes to tell Hoseok, but he knew that he wouldn’t hear the end of it from Jin. Plus, he really wasn’t that big of a fan of dad jokes. It wasn’t his type of humor.
Him and Jin went back to the cafe after their last class of the day. They walked in and they were greeted by Hoseok’s cheery smile like usual, but Yoongi couldn’t form any words
Hoseok was wearing glasses.
And he looked good in glasses.
This was his first time seeing Hoseok wearing glasses, so he must just wear contacts more. They were black frames and they shaped Hoseok’s face nicely. And his hair was styled so that his forehead was exposed.
God, this man was gorgeous .
Yoongi’s heart was beating so fast as they stood at the register to order their drinks that it felt like he ran a 100 meter race. Jin ordered his drink first, which gave Yoongi some more time to admire how gorgeous Hoseok looked. He needed to lower his heart rate and calm down so he looked over the menu like he’s never seen it before to try to help him calm down. Yoongi ordered the same thing each time, but maybe today he wanted to change things up a bit.
He felt a light slap on his shoulder and turned towards Jin. “Yoongi-yah, just order something,” Jin seemed like he was starting to get impatient.
“I’d like to order something,” Yoongi said, deadpanned. Jin sighed in defeat.
“What would you like to order?” Hoseok paused for a second, then he lit up when the joke caught up to him. He howled with laughter and Yoongi smiled widely, showing his gums. He was proud of himself for being the one to make Hoseok laugh.
“That something is coming right up!” Hoseok told them their total and Jin paid again, which Yoongi thanked him for.
They waited down at the end of the counter for their drinks. Hoseok’s back was turned to them while he was making their drinks, but Yoongi couldn’t help but stare at him. He smiled when Hoseok started making sound effect noises pouring the drinks into their to-go cups. This man was so cute. Jin nudged Yoongi’s arm with his elbow and out of the corner of his eye, Jin was smirking at him and giving him a knowing look. Yoongi rolled his eyes at him.
“One something for Yoongi-ssi,” Hoseok called out to him. Yoongi smiled and blushed as he grabbed his drink. It was an iced americano, his usual. “And something on the house.” Hoseok went into the display case and took out a chocolate brownie, placed it on a napkin, and gave it to Yoongi. Hoseok winked at him and Yoongi wanted to hide; his face reddened.
Later on that night, Jin told him that Hoseok was flirting with him, but Yoongi disagreed. He told Jin that Hoseok was just playing along with the joke and he was only being nice.
But after that day, Yoongi fell for him even more.
-
It was currently the start of finals week and Yoongi was feeling stressed about his upcoming exams. But once he walked into the coffee shop a few minutes before, he felt a little better. Especially since he saw Hoseok at the register, smiling with his dimple showing. He looked cute today with his hair parted to the side and he was wearing a nice sweater underneath his apron. Yoongi blushed, just like the first time, when Hoseok handed him his order.
“Yoongi, just ask him out,” Jin said and took a sip of his drink.
Yoongi, Jin, and Jungkook were seated now at a table near a window with a nice view of the campus pond. Since they were regulars, they basically claimed this table as their own. It was like their unofficial assigned seat. This time, they were having a quick lunch before they headed to their afternoon exams.
“I’m not doing it,” Yoongi said, leaning back in his seat and crossing his arms across his chest.
“Yoongi!” Jungkook exclaimed. “Why not?”
“Yah! Respect your elders!” Yoongi threw a napkin at him. Jungkook apologized, but that kid didn’t look sorry at all. He was smirking at him from across the table. Jungkook knew how to push Yoongi’s buttons.
“What’s the worst that could happen?” Jin asked.
“He could say no,” Yoongi replied. “I could make a fool of myself. I could ruin the relationship before it even started. I would be so embarrassed that I wouldn’t be able to show my face here again. I’d have to carry around a paper bag on my head, so he couldn’t see me on campus.” He knew it was an overreaction, but he couldn’t help it as those words spilled out.
“Woah, Yoongi-” Jin was cut off by Jungkook.
“Can you do that, hyung? So I can laugh at you wearing the bag on your head?” Jungkook’s eyes were as big as boba balls and full of mirth.
“Aish, you brat!” Yoongi reached across the table to try to hit Jungkook, but he moved away in time, almost knocking Jin’s drink over. “You’re so freaking annoying.” Jungkook started cackling, leaning on Jin, and Yoongi just rolled his eyes. Someone please save him from this kid, he thought.
“Or,” Jin suggested slowly, giving a look towards Jungkook. “He says yes and you live happily ever after. Yoongi-yah, you’ve been crushing on this guy for the entire semester.”
Yoongi didn’t respond to him. Instead, he rested his head on his hand and glanced at Hoseok. He was preparing drinks for a customer in line and was moving his body in time with the slow music of the coffee shop. Yoongi wondered if he dances in his free time since he moves with such ease.
To be honest, Yoongi didn’t know much about the barista. He was always too shy to start a proper conversation, so they were mostly about the weather or about how their days were. He wanted to get to know him, though. Yoongi wished he had enough courage to ask him out because oh boy did he want to.
Hoseok caught his eye and gave him a big smile. Yoongi felt his face flush and turned his head away back towards his friends. Jin and Jungkook looked at each other, shaking their heads.
“Shut up,” Yoongi groaned, hiding his face in his hands. He felt his watch vibrate on his wrist, so he glanced down and sighed. “I’m going to be late to class.” He muttered, getting up and throwing his drink in the trash. “See you guys later.” With that, he walked towards the door giving a final glance to Hoseok behind the counter. Hoseok was waving to him as he was leaving. Yoongi gave a tiny wave back and left the shop, with a slight spring in his step. Sometimes even just seeing that man gives him energy.
He was down bad for Hoseok.
-
The next day, it was just Yoongi and Jungkook visiting the coffee shop. They walked in and he couldn’t help the disappointed look that appeared on his face. It wasn’t Hoseok at the counter this time. It was rare for him to walk in and Hoseok not be there. It was someone he didn’t recognize, so he must’ve recently started working there.
“JIMIN-SSI!” Yoongi jumped slightly by how loud Jungkook called the barista’s, no Jimin’s, name. Yoongi watched as the man at the counter just rolled his eyes and shook his head. Yoongi thought he must be used to Jungkook’s antics, too.
They got up to the counter and Yoongi could hear Jimin scolding Jungkook, but of course he was paying no mind to him. He was bouncing on his feet slightly next to Yoongi and looking at the food in the display cases.
“Jimin-ssi, this is my hyung, Yoongi!” Jungkook introduced them. Jimin’s sharp gaze turned to look at Yoongi up and down. He felt he was being judged based on how intense Jimin was staring at him.
“Ah, so you’re Yoongi,” Yoongi didn’t like how Jimin said that. “What are your intentions towards my hyung?” Jimin asked him, resting his elbows on the counter and placing his head on his hands. Yoongi just stared at him. This was his first time meeting Jimin. What or who was he talking about?
“Who?” Yoongi asked, looking confused, eyebrows furrowed. Jimin’s face lit up. He wondered why because all he asked was a simple question.
“You do look like a grumpy kitten!” Yoongi glared at him, but it just made Jimin smile. “You’re so cute!”
“Ah Jimin-ah, stop socializing with -” A voice called from the kitchen and he stepped out. It was Hoseok. “Oh hello, Yoongi-ssi.” Upon seeing him, Yoongi felt his face heat up, but he waved shyly at him. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Jimin and Jungkook smirking at each other. How did Jungkook know this Jimin person anyway?
Was he seeing things or did Hoseok have a light dusting of pink on his cheeks? Hoseok was smiling at him, showing off his heart-shaped smile. Yoongi couldn’t help but smile back. “Ring up an iced americano and a matcha tea.” Hoseok said it while still looking at Yoongi. Yoongi glanced down at the floor, shyly. Of course Hoseok knew his order by heart.
He heard Hoseok start making the drinks and Jimin rang up their order. Looking up again, Jimin was still smirking at him and he had a mysterious glint in his eye that made Yoongi nervous. He handed Jimin the correct bills and then they waited for their drinks.
“Jimin-ssi,” Jungkook called out, bouncing on the balls of his feet again. “Can we meet at the dance studio later? I want to go over the choreography again.” Ah, that explains things, Yoongi thought. He must’ve met Jimin through the dance club he just recently joined.
“Of course, Jungkookie,” Jimin smiled at him kindly. “You’re so good at dancing!” Jungkook blushed from the compliment. But Yoongi had to agree. He was a great dancer.
“I wish I could join you guys too,” Hoseok said as he was stirring a drink. Yoongi’s eyebrows raised slightly. Was he in the dance club too? It made sense with how he would occasionally catch Hoseok dancing to the coffee shop music. “I have a huge exam to study for tomorrow.”
“Aw, that’s too bad, hyung,” Jimin said, slightly pouting. “Next time, then. We need to work on our trio choreography too and plan it out for the talent competition.” Yoongi remembered Jungkook telling him and Jin about the talent competition that is held at the end of the school year. He was looking forward to seeing Jungkook perform, but now he was really excited to see how well Hoseok could really dance.
“Here you go, Yoongi,” Hoseok told him softly, smiling at him. Yoongi felt his heart skip a beat and blushed when their hands slightly touched when he handed Yoongi his iced coffee. They both looked into each other’s eyes and blushed before looking away. God, this man was so adorable. He heard Jungkook groan quietly beside him. Yoongi already knew what he was going to say.
Or so he thought.
“Argh, I can’t take it anymore!” Jungkook raised his voice slightly. Yoongi turned to look at him, but Jungkook was looking at Hoseok, almost begging? “Please, Hoseok hyung! Please, ask out my Yoongi hyung!” Yoongi’s eyes widened and his face was inflamed. He wanted the ground to swallow him whole. He couldn’t believe that Jungkook was betraying him like this. He might as well start taking applications for a new best friend. “He thinks you’re really cute.”
Yep, Yoongi was going to ask Namjoon to be his new best friend. Yoongi wanted to run out of the store in embarrassment, but his feet wouldn’t move. He was frozen to the spot. He turned to look at Hoseok to see his reaction. His eyes were widened too and his face was about as red as Yoongi’s felt.
But then he met Yoongi’s eyes and his expression softened and he gave him his biggest smile. Yoongi felt hope flow through his body.
“I think you’re cute too,” He was smiling so wide that his eyes turned to crescent shapes, hiding the dark brown hue. Hoseok’s smile was so contagious, Yoongi couldn’t help but smile back.
Yoongi was so smitten.
“Check your cup.” Hoseok gestured towards the drink Yoongi was holding. Yoongi lifted the cup and noticed something written on it. They were numbers. It was Hoseok’s phone number. “I was hoping to ask you out on a date hyung, but Jungkook beat me to it.” Hoseok mock-glared at Jungkook, who shrugged, smiling at how his intervention turned out. Oh how Yoongi was going to complain to Jin later.
“Ask me,” Yoongi said. He propped his elbow on the counter, resting his head on his hand and glanced at Hoseok shyly.
“Huh?” A confused expression appeared on Hoseok’s face and Yoongi inwardly cooed at how adorable he was.
“Ask me out,” Yoongi repeated, smiling softly at him.
Hoseok turned pink again. “Okay, hyung. Would you like to go on a date with me?”
“I would love to, Hoseok-ah.”
They both smiled at each other.
Yoongi’s watch chimed indicating it was time for his afternoon class. He glanced at Hoseok with a sad expression on his face. His watch just had to ruin the moment. “I better go to class, Hoseok-ah,” Yoongi said. “I’ll call you later?”
“I’d like that,” Hoseok murmured.
Yoongi moved to leave the coffee shop, but when he got closer to the door, Hoseok called out to him.
“Wait!” He dashed from behind the counter and jogged towards Yoongi. Yoongi looked at him curiously. “You forgot something.” Yoongi furrowed his eyebrows, wondering what he could’ve forgotten when he felt a pair of lips brush against his cheek gently. Yoongi blushed. Hoseok pulled back with a shy smile, his face a similar shade of pink. “Was that okay? I’m sorry if I overstepped-” Yoongi interrupted his rambling by holding one of Hoseok’s hands and interlacing their fingers.
“It was more than okay,” Yoongi said, squeezing his hand lightly. “I’m looking forward to our date.”
“Me too,” Hoseok said, still feeling shy. With one last squeeze, Yoongi let go, immediately missing the warmth of Hoseok’s hand. They smiled at each other a final time before Yoongi said his goodbyes, leaving the shop to head to class.
The smile never left Yoongi’s face.
It looked like Yoongi might get his happily ever after, after all.