Work Text
Sunday morning shifts are always easy. Simple. Quiet. A nice switch from the usual surge of people on weekdays and the feeling it brings of not having enough time to catch a small break in between orders.
It’s easy, but it’s also mind gratingly boring.
An hour from opening has past and only a few customers have stopped by so far. Seokjin has cleaned up the window on the pink display case, rearranged the light wooden tables, watered every single plant and sang along to the soft rock playing in the background. The only thing left to do was decorating a few burnt cupcakes that Seokjin forgot to take out of the oven while
You’re right
by
LUCY
kept him distracted
.
“What is that supposed to be?” Taehyung asks, looking up from his phone and nodding towards the cupcake in front of Seokjin.
“An alpaca...Obviously.”
Taehyung’s nose scrunches and he tilts his head slightly to look at it from a different angle. “Looks like a cloud.”
“Do you
want
to get fired?” Seokjin asks, but as he looks at the cupcake drowning in white frosting, he can see where Taehyung is coming from. In defeat, Seokjin drops the icing bag on the counter. Taehyung snorts. “Okay, so it’s an alpaca that needs a trim. It’s close enough!”
“Whatever you say.”
The door bangs open, old hinges creaking and the bell above ringing brightly to signal a new customer entering. He turns around to face the door, a welcoming, practiced, smile plastered on his face.
Alarm bells ring inside his head as soon as Seokjin sees a boy no older than six, standing alone in the middle of the cafe.
Wide doe eyes skip over Seokjin and Taehyung and land on the glass case of sweet treats. The boy rushes over, sticking his small palms and round nose on the glass in wonder. There’s a smudge of something purple on his cheek. Remains of an intense coloring session maybe?
“Um, hello there! Where are your parents?” Seokjin asks, leaning over the counter and giving the boy a wave. The boy doesn’t even spare a glance. Seokjin tries again, “What’s your name, sweetie?”
The door bangs open again, this time with even more force and Seokjin flinches as a guy barrels inside with heavy gasps. “Minsoo! What have I told you about running off like that? You almost gave me a heart attack!”
Wearing a prominent pout, the boy, Minsoo, turns around to look at the new arrival. Wordlessly he points at the treats with one hand while the other reaches to tug on the man’s black cargo pants. Seokjin almost laughs at the dejected sigh the man releases.
“I see he has a sweet tooth,” Seokjin says and gains the attention of the man. He shares the same eyes with Minsoo, big and sparkly as they lock onto Seokjin.
Even drowning in oversized clothes, Seokjin can see how buff the man is. There are tattoos decorating both of his arms and wavy brown hair long enough to tuck behind his ears where an array of earrings dangle. A faint scar on his cheekbone. Bunny teeth that tease his pierced bottom lip.
Handsome. Pretty.
“Sweet tooth and a constant need to run away. What a combo, kid,” The man says, looking down to smile at Minsoo as he ruffles the boy's messy hair. Seokjin takes a note of the glaringly absent wedding ring. “Ah, I didn’t even say hello! Sorry for the trouble.”
Seokjin snaps his attention back up and falls once again. The man’s buff frame mixed with his otherwise soft features and those damn eyes is a little too much for his silly crush prone heart.
“It’s no problem! I’m just glad you found him,” Seokjin says, “I assume you’re his dad?”
“Yeah, woah you’re the first one to think so. I usually get big brother or babysitter,” He says a little sheepishly.
He does look younger than the other parents of six year olds that visit the shop, maybe around mid-twenties, but the way he is lovingly looking at Minsoo is a look only parents share with their kids. Though Seokjin isn’t much of an expert on that.
Minsoo tugs his pant leg again, points harder to the towers of treats. The man clicks his tongue in a way that’s definitely not supposed to be attractive but has Seokjin staring at his sharp jawline. “Cupcakes aren’t breakfast kiddo.”
“Never failed me before,” Seokjin whispers to Minsoo and winks, “But your dad is right. You’re a growing kid, aren’t you? What about a toastie instead? I could draw something with ketchup on it?”
At those last words, Minsoo visibly perks up with interest, but he still stays well hidden behind his dad’s leg when he says quietly, “Uhm, can you...Can you-” He cuts himself off, looking up at his dad who gives him an encouraging tap to his shoulders. “Can you draw a fish?”
“I’d love to! Ham and cheese okay with you?” Minsoo nods and then completely disappears behind his dad. Seokjin can’t help but smile as he looks back up at the man again. “Something for you?”
“Ah, no, I’m good!” He says and brings out his wallet from one of his many pockets. Wearing a tight-lipped smile, he procures a crumbled up won note and hands it to Seokjin, “That enough?”
Seokjin almost refuses to take it.
“Yeah, perfect. Thank you!” Seokjin says and carefully places the note in the cash register, “Go ahead and pick a table. I’ll bring it to you when it’s ready.”
The man smiles and nods and then starts to lead Minsoo towards one of the many empty tables. He picks the one in the farthest corner where a hanging plant is growing big enough to spill onto the floor. Minsoo immediately starts chatting about something Seokjin can’t hear and his father listens intently like it’s the most important thing in the world. It probably is, at least to Minsoo, judging by the way his small arms wave around in the air as he rambles on.
“Well, someone has a crush
.”
Seokjin snaps his attention away from the two and turns around to look at Taehyung with an unimpressed stare. “Don’t you have a dishwasher to load?”
“I do, but this is way more interesting,” Taehyung says with a teasing grin that makes Seokjin regret hiring him four months ago, “Your ears are pink, you know?”
Seokjin goes to swat at Taehyung’s head, but Taehyung’s reflexes are faster, and he bolts to the kitchens with a menacing giggle. Seokjin sighs, rubs at his temple and tightens the knot of his pink apron.
He makes quick work of heating up the toastie and then carefully uses ketchup to draw a fish on the golden-brown surface like he promised. Somehow it ends up looking more like a seashell with a malformed fin, but when he brings it to Minsoo, the boy doesn’t seem to mind as he digs in with the hunger of a pack of wolves.
“You must’ve been hungry, huh?” Seokjin asks with a laugh that gets matched by the man who pushes a napkin in front of Minsoo’s face.
“He barely ate any breakfast this morning,” The man says, looking a little sheepish as he stares at his son, “Apparently my eggs were
too
scrambled.”
“Happens to the best of us.” Now that the man isn’t looking at him, Seokjin braves to explore the man's face without shame. The dark circles under his big brown eyes look out of place. “You sure I can’t get you anything? I’ve been told I make the best iced americano in Seoul.”
“Is that your way of saying I look tired?” The man asks, tilting his head up so he’s finally looking at Seokjin again. There’s a hint of a grin on his lips, a small chocolate chip mole underneath it. Cute.
Seokjin feels his ears heating up again, hopes that the man doesn’t have a habit of staring at people’s ears. “Possibly.”
The man is grinning for real now, his nose scrunching up with it. He swiftly glances at Seokjin’s name plate before returning to his eyes. “Well, Seokjin, how much does your city famous iced americano cost?”
“It’s on the house,” Seokjin says, lifting his hands and wiggling his fingers in a way that makes the man snort, “But only if you tell me your name.”
It’s not flirting, well at least that wasn’t Seokjin’s intention, but the man quirks a curious brow and suddenly Seokjin realizes how it might have sounded. There’s no use in mulling it over though, so Seokjin tries not to show how affected he is by his own words.
The man pretends to mull it over in his head, fingers tapping on the lilac painted table. Black nail polish chipping away, a few silver rings that match his piercings, a tattooed snake curling around his wrist. Seokjin is so focused on the prominent veins on the man’s hands that he almost doesn’t catch the name. “Jeon Jungkook.”
It’s a nice name. Rough yet soft around the edges. Seokjin likes it, likes the way it floats around in his head, repeating over and over until it feels almost as familiar as his own name. Seokjin tries to remember the last time he put so much thought behind someone’s name. He can’t.
Seokjin smiles and claps his palms together. When did they get so sweaty? “Great. I’ll be right back with your coffee, Jungkook!”
He turns around and walks away so quickly he nearly stumbles into another table on his way. Taehyung snickers from the register where he has undoubtedly been watching the entire exchange happen. Seokjin sends him a murderous glare.
“It’s spreading to your cheeks.”
“Shut up.”
-- ☕ --
Jungkook is not the first customer Seokjin has gotten attached to, but he sure is the first one that has Seokjin hoping that every time the bell rings above the door it’ll be Jungkook. For the last three days, Seokjin has been disappointed every single time.
It’s a Wednesday morning, which means it’s busy and instead of Taehyung teasing him, it’s Jimin. Both of those things are worse.
“Can’t believe you have a customer crush,” Jimin says, while he idly spreads mayo on sandwiches, “I clearly remember when Taehyung first came, you told me it was unethical that I was
drooling
over him. But look how that turned out!”
Seokjin pretends to be focused on the smoothie machine and not Jimin’s words. “I don’t have any recollection of that actually.”
“Whatever you say.”
“I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Is that him?”
“What?”
Jimin nods towards the entrance and Seokjin whips around so fast that for a moment it feels like he’s floating and when he sees Jungkook standing in the doorway, Seokjin kind of hopes he was.
Jungkook looks different this time. He’s wearing jeans and a leather jacket over a simple white shirt. His long hair is tied behind his head and the many earrings he had on last time have gone down to only one in each ear. His boots are replaced with simple black sneakers. No tattoos or chipped nail polish in sight.
Minsoo is there too, once again hiding behind Jungkook’s leg. He has a blue and green backbag and a matching helmet. That’s when Seokjin registers the skateboard and kid’s scooter hanging from Jungkook’s hands.
Of course he skateboards.
Of course.
There few people in the line follow Seokjin’s line of sight and turn around to look at the newcomers and suddenly Jungkook looks like he wants to run away. He looks past the line and finds Seokjin who almost yells out an apology for accidentally bringing so much attention on him. Instead, Seokjin turns back and wills the smoothie machine to finish quicker.
He serves the customers in record time, ignoring the knowing look glances Jimin is throwing his way whenever their eyes meet. When Jungkook steps up to the register, Seokjin releases an audible breath.
“Hey, there! Lovely to see you again,” Seokjin says and Jungkook grins so wide it has Seokjin’s stomach doing involuntary flips, “What can I get you this time? Can I perhaps interest you in some blueberry breakfast muffins that were supposed to be whale shaped, but look more like a failed attempt at a heart?”
Jimin stifles a laugh, and murmurs, “Dear lord,” under his breath. Seokjin flips him off behind the counter.
If Jungkook hears Jimin’s remark, he doesn’t pay any attention to it. “I’ve never had a whale shaped muffin before.”
“You won’t today either!” Seokjin says and earns a laugh from Jungkook. No, not a laugh. A giggle.
Dear lord, indeed.
“Good thing I also haven’t tried heart muffins before,” Jungkook says, still with the remains of his giggle on his voice, “What do you think Minsoo? Should we try the heart muffins Seokjin made?”
Seokjin is pretty sure Minsoo has no idea what’s going on, because the boy has been staring up at the bows hanging from the ceiling light ever since they stepped into the shop, completely in his own world. Still, Minsoo looks up at Jungkook, nods lazily and goes back to staring up.
“We’ll take one to share then, please.” Jungkook’s smiling, bunny teeth on show. Seokjin’s heart feels like it’s about to burst so Jimin has to nudge his shoulder and nod towards the growing line of customers for Seokjin to realize he’s probably supposed to say something.
“Cool. Great.” Seokjin stumbles through his words. “Anything else?”
“Not this time, thank you.” Jungkook shakes his head, a strand of hair escapes its constraints and falls on his forehead. Seokjin has a terrible urge to swipe it behind Jungkook’s ear.
As Jungkook reaches for his wallet, Seokjin reaches his hand out to stop him. “It’s on the house.”
“Oh?” Jungkook quirks a brow at that, and Seokjin sees a glint of mischief in his eyes. The good kind of mischief, the playful kind, teasing. “Do you always give free goods to tired looking single parents?”
“Only the cute ones.” The words tumble out of him without warning, and he only realizes it when Jungkook’s eyes go wide.
Fuck.
Too straight forward. Seokjin laughs to stop the silence threatening to settle between them. “I’m talking about Minsoo, of course.”
“Right...” Jungkook trails off, biting down a smile.
Another nervous chuckle from Seokjin. “And besides, the muffins were a failed experiment, so I wouldn’t put them up for sale anyway.”
Seokjin leaves out the fact that the whole reason he even tried to experiment in the first place was in case Jungkook and Minsoo would show up again. Leaves out the fact that he wanted to see Jungkook smile again.
“I’ll have to pay you back somehow, though,” Jungkook says, but abandons the mission of finding his wallet.
“You can tell me a fact about you?”
Jungkook snorts. “You run a very strange business, Seokjin.”
“Gotta pay the bills somehow.”
“And giving out free stuff is the way to do it?”
“Well, you came back, didn’t you?” Seokjin says, wiggling his eyebrows, “Finding regular customers is a talent.”
“Fair enough.” Jungkook’s nose scrunches as he smiles. Seokjin’s heart is ping-ponging around in his chest. “What do you want to know?”
Your number. Are you single? Gay? Secretly a mass murderer?
“What do you do for work?”
“Really? That’s what you want to know? I was thinking you’re going to ask for my number or something.” Seokjin heart stops, stands still as a slow grin curls on Jungkook’s lips. “But have it your way. I’m a dog groomer.”
“Oh.”
“You’re surprised?”
Seokjin shakes his head even though it’s a lie. Though the part about grooming dogs isn’t really the part that surprised Seokjin. “Not really. I mean, you look like a dog person.”
“Thank you?” Jungkook laughs again. “I think?”
“It
is
a compliment.”
“You have a really weird way of complimenting people,” Jimin interjects under his breath as he comes to nudge Seokjin’s side again, “The line is getting impatient.”
At that Seokjin glances past Jungkook just in time to see a businesswoman checking her watch irritably. “Oh, right! Jimin can you-”
“Here’s your muffin,” Jimin says, sets the blueberry muffin onto the counter and then turns to Jungkook with a whisper, “You sure you want that?”
Jungkook looks like he’s holding back laughter as he stares down at the muffin that indeed looks nothing like a whale. Seokjin has the sudden urge to go hide in the ingredient closet. It would be a tight fit, but he’s sure if he rearranged a couple of bags of flour, he’d could squeeze right in.
“It’s perfect,” Jungkook says, through it sounds like he is holding his breath not to let the laughter escape. His eyes lift to look at Seokjin again when he adds, “Kinda charming in a way,” and Seokjin
swears
there’s something flirtatious about the way he says it.
Before Seokjin can say anything, Minsoo interrupts his thoughts with a long whine and just like that whatever flirtatiousness Jungkook may have had in the way he was looking at Seokjin switches into a soft smile that’s clearly reserved only for Minsoo.
“Yeah, yeah okay. We can go,” Jungkook says, smiling softly at the way Minsoo swings his arms around impatiently. He looks back up at Seokjin as he takes the plate, “Thank you for this.”
Then Minsoo is dragging him away by the sleeve of his leather jacket and Seokjin is unfortunately greeted by the angry looking businesswoman. Though maybe he should, he doesn’t care, talking to Jungkook was worth it.
-- ☕ --
To Seokjin’s utter delight, Jungkook and Minsoo keep coming back and every time, their order is different. Seokjin makes sure of that.
One day it’s a latte with a potato shaped smiley face on it, then it’s a bunny themed wrap with two carrot sticks poking out as ears and two small seaweed circles to mimic the eyes. A strawberry cupcake with a red fondant coating and mint leaves. A blueberry smoothie with edible glitter that Seokjin swears to Minsoo is really captured stars.
Every time, Seokjin learns something more about Jungkook. Like his age, 25, and the fact that he has a Doberman named Bam and that there’s a collection of spiderman figurines in his living room.
Seokjin doesn’t necessarily do it on purpose, at least not at first, but the treats and drinks he creates slowly start to become more and more specifically geared towards Jungkook and Minsoo. Seokjin likes to see the surprise on their face, the happiness such a small thing can create. Likes to see them walk through the door time after time.
“I’m really losing the plot here, Jin,” Taehyung says, leaning against the counter with his arms crossed as he looks down at Seokjin’s work, “But let me guess, he’s a skater boy?”
“Can’t I just think skateboards are cool?” Seokjin asks with a groan. Taehyung quirks an unimpressed brow and stares at Seokjin like he can see right through him, “Fine! Yes, he’s a skater boy! What about it?”
Taehyung laughs with his entire chest. “Oh, it’s worse than I thought. You’re
whipped.”
“Am not.”
“You so are.”
“And what if I am?” Seokjin’s voice comes out whiny and suddenly the three-year age gap between them seems to flip around as Taehyung stares at him with wide eyes.
Taehyung’s mouth opens and closes as he tries to find words to say. Seokjin sighs and turns to look down at the skateboard cookie staring up mockingly at him. He
knows
it’s ridiculous, knows that he’s acting like a silly teenager having their first crush. But that’s truly how Seokjin feels like and he doesn’t know what else to do with his sweaty palms.
Eventually, Taehyung sighs and takes the icing bag from Seokjin. “You’ve had crushes and relationships before, Jin. How is this any different?”
“It’s not, I know. It’s just...It’s been a while.”
Two years. It’s been over two years since Seokjin even thought about crushes or relationships or even simple one-night stands. The last relationship he had ended in ugly words and promises being broken. Apparently, Seokjin was
too
career focused. And maybe he was. He doesn’t really blame his ex for being upset over Seokjin spending entire days and night setting up the cafe. He gets it.
Taehyung hums. “You’re scared?”
“I don’t know.” Seokjin sighs, shakes his head and looks up at the ceiling. “I’m not scared, just hesitant to jump into anything too quickly. I don’t even really know Jungkook.
And
he has a kid. Am I ready to start something with a guy who has a kid? What about the other parent? I don’t even know if he’s single and-”
“Okay, calm down,” Taehyung interrupts him, grabs him by the shoulders and turns Seokjin until they’re face to face, “You’re overthinking it. I mean, you said it yourself, you don’t know the guy. The only thing you can do right now is get to know him and things will fall into place, yeah?”
“Yeah, you’re right. I know.”
“It doesn’t have to be a date immediately either. You can just...feel out the vibes for a while. If it’s meant to happen, it will eventually. Naturally,” Taehyung says, looking a little too proud of himself to finally be the one giving out the life advice.
Seokjin snorts, whacks Taehyung’s shoulder lightly. “Look at you being smart.”
“I’m always smart.”
“You know that’s not true,” Seokjin says and laughs when Taehyung pouts dramatically, “Remember when I had to deal with your crush on Jimin? It was
terrible.
And that was before you started working here. It was even worse after that. Nearly locked you up in the supply closet and not let you out before a confession was made.
”
Taehyung huffs and pulls his hands back from Seokjin’s shoulders to cross them in over of his stomach instead. “Fine, but look how that turned out. Jimin and I’s love is in full bloom and we’re the happy parents of the cutest dog in the entire world!”
Seokjin scrunches his nose in disgust. “Gross.”
“You’re just jealous.”
Yeah, maybe I am.
“Geez, thanks for the support.”
“You’re welcome,” Taehyung says and claps gleefully, “Now, go back to your gift for the skater boy. I’m sure he’ll love it.”
-- ☕ --
Jungkook does, in fact, love the skateboard cookie. At least that’s what Seokjin is choosing to read the surprise on Jungkook’s face as.
This time it’s a Saturday afternoon and Jungkook has come without Minsoo trailing behind him. For some reason Seokjin was surprised to see him alone, was expecting Minsoo’s round face to pop up from behind Jungkook’s black cargo pants. Apparently, Minsoo is out on a playdate. If Seokjin was relieved to hear no mention of another parent, no one needs to know.
Jungkook’s doe eyes wide as he inspects the cookie on the counter. This time Seokjin had succeeded. Or at least it looks like what it’s supposed to this time. “You like skateboarding?”
“Well I...uh, yes?”
Jungkook’s browns knit together, but to Seokjin it looks more like amusement than a frown. “Really?”
“What? You don’t believe me?” Seokjin asks, bringing his hand up to his chest like he is wounded by Jungkook’s comment. He’s not. Especially when Jungkook’s bunny teeth bite down on his bottom lip. “I can skateboard.”
Seokjin has never once put his feet on a skateboard, hasn’t even held one in his hands. The mere idea of stepping on an unbalanced board with wheels scares him. Seokjin would rather swim with sharks.
“I bet you can.” Jungkook nods, mouth stuck in a permanent smile. “You go to the skatepark often?”
Seokjin prays to whatever higher power resides in the skies to will the heat building in the tips of his ears to stop. “Oh yeah! Very often.”
Jungkook hums and stares down at his feet in silence for a moment. Seokjin waits for him to say something, anything, busies his hands by taking a big sip from his iced americano and hopes the drink will cool him down.
When Jungkook looks back up, he looks shy, biting down on his lip again until, “Wanna meet there sometime?”
Seokjin almost chokes on his coffee. “What?”
“I hang around there a lot. Obviously,” Jungkook says, lifting his skateboard to make his point while avoiding Seokjin’s eyes, “You could come around some day if you want?”
“Oh?”
In milliseconds, Seokjin’s mind goes through a million scenarios. Him trying to step onto the board, Jungkook laughing and coming to hold his hands so Seokjin doesn’t fall face first into the asphalt. Jungkook’s hands on Seokjin’s waist to steady him. Seokjin leaning down to plant a messy kiss on the tip of Jungkook’s round nose...
Okay, too fast.
“Don’t look so scared,” Jungkook says with a laugh and then he is leaning closer, stomach right against the counter. With some hesitation, Jungkook taps Seokjin’s arm once, twice, “Think about it, okay?”
Seokjin can’t help but nod, can’t help but match Jungkook’s tapping on top of Jungkook’s tattooed knuckles. There’s a smiley face on one finger, the letter M on another. His nails are colored again, this time a dark navy blue. Seokjin imagines those hands leading him as he desperately tries not to fall of a skateboard, suddenly feels the heat spread from his ears to his cheeks.
“Yeah, I’ll think about it.”
-- ☕ --
Seokjin thinks about it. Seokjin thinks about it so much it’s driving him insane.
He thinks about it as he drinks his morning coffee at home, thinks about it when he gets stuck in Seoul’s traffic on his commute to the cafe, thinks about it as he waters the plants and fills sandwiches and opens the doors.
It follows him back home too, to his
Love Inferno
marathon on his couch and to the freshly washed sheets of his bed. Doesn’t leave him alone even in his sleep, thoughts twisting and turning in his bed with him.
Weeks go by with Jungkook visiting almost every day, but there’s no mention of meeting at the skatepark. Seokjin isn’t sure if Jungkook is waiting for Seokjin to bring it up or if he’s completely forgotten about it. Not knowing the answer to that is another reason why Seokjin is going insane.
It’s not like it would be rocket science to figure it out, Seokjin could just ask. But for some reason, every time the chance comes, Seokjin backs out or Jungkook changes the subject. That’s a habit of Jungkook’s that Seokjin has picked up, jumping from one subject to another.
“So like, this dog was barking at me, right? I’ve groomed her before, so I’m always prepared for it with noise cancelling headphones, but this time I forgot them at home,” Jungkook explains, a hint of a whine in his voice, “I had planned to listen to the new TXT album. Have you heard it?”
Seokjin shakes his head slowly. “I’m not that up to date with K-pop groups these days.”
“Oh...Well, you should listen to it. I think you’d like it,” Jungkook says, “Anyway, Minsoo was asking if you could make him another fish toastie one day. I've been trying to make them at home, but apparently, it’s not the same. Ever since that galaxy smoothie, Minsoo thinks you’re secretly a witch.”
“I think I’ll take that as a compliment,” Seokjin says with a laugh, “But yes, I’ll make it the next time you’ll come.”
“Cool! It won’t be until next week though. Minsoo’s spending this week with his mom.”
Oh.
The world stands still for a moment, or at least it does for Seokjin while everyone around him are surely moving on as if nothing happened. As if Jungkook hadn’t just spoken the first mention of a mother being present in his child's life. As if those words didn’t confirm what Seokjin had been suspecting. Jungkook wasn’t together with the mom anymore.
Seokjin clears his throat, bunches his fingers into fists inside the pockets of his apron. “You remember when we talked about meeting at the skatepark?”
If Jungkook is taken back from the sudden switch in subject of the slight waver in Seokjin’s voice, he doesn’t show it. “Uhm, yeah! Did you think about it?”
“I did.”
So much that it’s a little embarrassing.
“I think I’d like that...going skateboarding. With you.”
The grin on Jungkook’s face is so bright that the sun itself is most likely boiling with jealousy. “Yeah? I’d like that too.”
“How’s Saturday? I have a rare weekend off.”
“Saturday’s perfect.” Jungkook nods, then takes his phone out of his pocket. “Can I have your number? We can figure out the details through text.”
“Oh, of course.” With shaky fingers, Seokjin takes the phone from Jungkook and presses his digits in while trying not to think too much about how much this feels like planning a date. Maybe they are.
Jungkook takes the phone back and starts writing something and a moment later Seokjin’s own phone buzzes in his pocket. He doesn’t check it yet, instead focuses on looking at the smile lines in the corners of Jungkook’s eyes.
Jungkook’s phone goes back in his pocket before he takes the take-out mug of coffee into his hands. “I have to get going now. I’ll text you later.”
“Okay.”
“See you!”
“Bye.”
The bell above the door dings as Jungkook steps outside, leaving Seokjin alone in the empty cafe with so many feelings that he feels a bit dizzy. Sitting down on the stool behind the counter, Seokjin pulls out his phone, reads the text Jungkook sent him and is very glad he had sat down before reading.
FROM: Unknown number
Saturday
It’s a date ;)
-- ☕ --
It’s a date, It’s a date, It’s a date.
It’s a date.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
“It’s a date!” Seokjin yells out of his closet that by now probably has less clothes than are piled up on his bed where his phone is buried in, “That’s what he texted me.”
There’s a silence on the line for a moment and then Jimin’s voice is crackling though the phone speaker.
“Finally! Okay, so what are you wearing?”
“That’s the problem! I don’t even know if it’s a
date
date or just a date.”
“Sometimes I wonder how you’ve ever dated before,”
Taehyung says and Jimin snickers. Seokjin makes a mental note to make them both scrub the floors of the cafe’s kitchen with a toothbrush.
“Where are you going with him?”
Jimin asks once he’s swallowed down his laughter.
“A skatepark.” More silence. Silence for so long Seokjin has to walk over to his phone to make sure the bad internet hadn’t cut off the call. He picks up the phone and finds Jimin and Taehyung having one of their secret telepathing conversations. Seokjin groans. “What.”
It’s Taehyung who says,
“You don’t know how to skateboard.”
It’s Jimin who recounts with,
“That’s kinda romantic though, don’t you think? It’ll give Jin an excuse to hold Jungkook’s hand.”
It’s Seokjin who whines like a child. “You’re not helping!”
“We’re helping plenty!”
Taehyung says at the same time as Jimin says,
“I take personal offence to that.”
“I’m hanging up.”
“Wait-!”
Taehyung’s words get cut off as Seokjin cold-heartedly presses the end call button. He buries his phone under the pile of clothes, throws himself on top of them and sort of wishes he could crawl in between the layers and never resurface.
What does one wear to the skatepark? He can’t go too fancy because he doesn’t want his clothes to get ruined, but he also wants to dress up as someone going on a date. Is he supposed to have protective gear? Seokjin doesn’t even own a helmet for god’s sake! Or a skateboard for that matter!
Seokjin brings his hands up to rub his face. He feels a headache coming in, an achy pulsing near his temples that will most likely spread all the way to the back of his brain soon. Seokjin really needs to get a grip.
After about 10 minutes of lamenting on top of his clothes pile, Seokjin’s stomach growls so loudly that his neighbors must hear it. Seokjin drags himself up and goes to heat yesterday's leftovers and once he’s done, gulfs it down quickly while staring out the window. Like the entire world is laughing at him, a group of teenager's skateboards past.
When he’s done, Seokjin returns to his bed and digs his phone from under the clothes. There are a few missed calls from Taehyung and Jimin, a few messages from them too written in all caps. Seokjin ignores them and clicks on his messages with Jungkook.
Since they’ve exchanged numbers, they’ve talked a little. Simple things like Seokjin sending photos of his cafe creations and Jungkook recommending him new music and begging him to watch Spider man along with one picture of Jungkook’s new nail polish that Minsoo had taken creative liberties with. Green and yellow alternating between fingers and some polish ending up on his neatly taken care of cuticles. Seokjin had joked about wanting to go to Minsoo’s nail salon, Jungkook hadn’t taken it as a joke and promised to take the polishes with him next time.
When it comes to their skatepark date, they have talked less. They’ve picked the time and where to meet up, but otherwise Seokjin is jumping straight into the deep end without knowing what to expect.
Sighing, Seokjin starts typing, presses the backspace to clear it, starts again. He does that for about ten times before he finally gathers the guts to send something.
JIN
Hey
I need to tell you something
Seokjin nibbles on the inside of his cheek as he waits for Jungkook to answer. Thankfully, it only takes him a few minutes.
Jungkookie
Is this about you not knowing how to skateboard?
Cause I already know
JIN
WHAT
Jungkookie
Lol
You’re a worse liar than you think
JIN
...
Jungkookie
It’s okay tho
It’s kinda charming
If Seokjin has to close his phone momentarily and scream into his pillow, that’s nobody's business but his own.
Jungkookie
Are u nervous?
JIN
No
Jungkookie
A bad liar even in texts
It’s okay, I’ll make sure u won’t get hurt
You can hold onto me if you’re scared of falling
I have strong arms
JIN
Are you flirting with me, Jeon Jungkook
Jungkookie
Depends
Were all those special drinks and treats your way of flirting?
JIN
What if they were?
Jungkookie
Then yes, I’m flirting with you
Seokjin’s thankful that Jungkook can’t see him right now because Seokjin would have no way of hiding the red tint of his ears right now.
JIN
Cool
That’s cool
Jungkookie
Real smooth
JIN
Aren’t I always?
Jungkookie
If that makes you happy then yeah, sure ;)
JIN
You really have to stop using the winky thing
Jungkookie
What?
You don’t like it?
;) ;) ;)
JIN
...
I didn’t say that
Jungkookie
;)
JIN
You’re a menace
Jungkookie
See you tomorrow, Jin ;)
-- ☕ --
Saturday comes and though Seokjin is stressed, it all seems to melt away as soon as he spots Jungkook moving on the ramps.
It’s like he’s flying, as if he can control gravity. It’s no wonder he likes skateboarding when Spider man is his favourite superhero. Skating must make him feel like one too.
Without announcing his presence Seokjin watches Jungkook for a while. He’s wearing baggy black jeans and a loose white graphic tee with a worn band logo that Seokjin doesn’t recognize. His hair is styled in a bun at the nape of his neck again, but he has neatly styled his bangs to lay on his forehead this time. The tattoos are on show. One day, Seokjin wants to go through each one, trace his fingers over the ink while listen to Jungkook share their meaning. He wonders if Jungkook has tattoos that can’t be seen with clothes on, feels heat rushing to his ears from the thought.
It takes Jungkook a few minutes to spot him, but when he does, he immediately moves away from the ramps and skates towards Seokjin with his nose scrunching from the size of his smile.
“Hey!” Jungkook yells when he’s close enough as he waves enthusiastically. A few heads turn towards Seokjin as Jungkook joins him, notedly a smaller man with an ink spill of hair that’s half covering his sharp catlike eyes. He’s sitting on the sidelines with a basketball in his lap and he’s eying Seokjin curiously. “Welcome!”
“Hey, Kook,” Seokjin says, wonders when the nickname became a thing, “I don’t look too out of place, right?”
Jungkook hums thoughtfully and skates a few circles around him, eyeing Seokjin from his shoes up to his hair. He had opted for the loosest light washed jeans he could find and a simple tight-fitting baby pink t-shirt that, according to Jimin, makes his shoulders look huge.
Stopping right in front of Seokjin, Jungkook shakes his head. “Nah, I think you look cute.”
“Cute?” Seokjin asks, laughs nervously when Jungkook nods, “I was going for cool.”
“I like cute, though.”
“Oh, that’s...that’s good.”
Jungkook grins, reaches over to lightly slap Seokjin’s chest. “Come on, I’ll interduce you to my friends and then we’ll start.”
After stuffing his skateboard under his armpit, Jungkook curls his fingers around Seokjin’s wrist and starts leading him towards the basketball guy and two others who have joined him in observing Seokjin and Jungkook’s meeting. Jungkook doesn’t let go as he introduces Seokjin to his friends and Seokjin can barely focus on talking with them because of it.
There’s Yoongi, the guy with the basketball, who doesn’t seem that interested in meeting Seokjin until Jungkook off-handedly mentions the cat shaped bagels Seokjin had made a few weeks ago. Then there’s Hoseok, red haired with a heart-shaped smile and a big speaker that’s playing hip-hop so loudly it must carry all the way to the office buildings a block down the street. Lastly, he meets Namjoon, who has a dyed blue buzzcut and is apparently banned from stepping foot on the actual ramps but still likes to hang around to be with his friends.
They’re nice people, really nice. Hoseok asks Seokjin for songs to add to the playlist. Namjoon sympathizes with Seokjin’s inability to skateboard. Yoongi, once he has warmed up a bit, starts a discussion about the best coffee blends.
Once the discussion starts veering towards Jungkook’s apparent obsession with Seokjin’s cafe, Jungkook decides that’s it’s enough. He laughs awkwardly, sends pointed glares to his friends and starts dragging Seokjin away.
Jungkook leads them over to the edge of the park and sets his backbag on the graffitied asphalt where he crouches down and starts rummaging through the contents. “I got you some gear, since you’re new to all this.”
He pulls out black knee and elbow pads and unclasps a bright yellow helmet off the handle of the bag, then hands stands back up and plants the helmet on Seokjin’s head. Seokjin goes to adjust it, but Jungkook’s beats him to it, pulling the chinstrap tight and clasping it closed with a snap.
When Jungkook picks up the knee pads, he isn’t excepting for Jungkook to get on his knees and put them on for Seokjin, but that’s exactly what Jungkook does. The view is in no way supposed to be sexual, but Seokjin hasn’t been laid in an embarrassingly long time and Jungkook is quite literally on his knees for him. Shame rushes in and Seokjin forces himself to look up at the birds flying in the sky.
“Enjoying the view?” Jungkook asks, a smile in his voice that Seokjin can imagine, but Seokjin doesn’t look down again.
“Yes, the birds are quite magnificent.”
Jungkook snorts just as the strap of the left knee pad tightens. Seokjin dares a peak as he hears the movement of Jungkook standing back up. “Elbows next.”
Once all the pads are all secured, Jungkook takes a step back and eyes Seokjin up and down. He bites down on his lip to hold back a smile from forming. “Cute.”
“Yeah, these definitely don’t help with the cool imagine.” Seokjin sighs, looking down at the kneepads. They’re strapped on so tight that his blood is probably having trouble flowing there.
“Ah, everyone looks a little silly when they first start,” Jungkook reassures him, reaching his foot over to the skateboard and pulling so it rolls and stops in between their feet, “Safety first, though.”
“I don’t think anything about this is safe.”
“Is anything in life really safe if you think about it?”
Jungkook says it with a laugh, like it’s a joke, but if Seokjin really
does
think about it, he supposes Jungkook is right.
Opening the cafe while knowing it could leave him bankrupt withing weeks wasn’t safe. Coming out to his old-fashioned grandparents wasn’t safe. Holding Jungkook’s hand in public might not be safe. But as Seokjin looks at the hand that has extended towards him and then around to the other people minding their own business, Seokjin doesn’t care. He never has really. Fear hasn’t stopped him before, why should it now?
“You ready?” Jungkook asks in the sweetest voice possible, and Seokjin wonders if it’s too early to kiss him. Seokjin nods wordlessly and presses his left palm against Jungkook’s. Their fingers lace together, fitting so well that it’s like they were always meant to be like this. “Good. Go ahead and step on the board. I’ll keep it still.”
Seokjin takes a deep breath, trusting blindly in the strength of Jungkook’s arms as he grips his right arm onto Jungkook’s shoulder. Jungkook’s foot goes to press down on the board, so it doesn’t move as Seokjin steps onto it. And then he is standing. Pretty much all his weight is resting on Jungkook, but he’s standing and Jungkook looks so proud Seokjin might really kiss him.
“Am I doing this right?” Seokjin asks with a nervous chuckle.
Jungkook squeezes his hand. “You’re perfect. Ready to move?”
Absolutely not.
“Yes, just don’t go too fast.”
“Got it. Slow and steady,” Jungkook mumbles, brows furrowing in either consternation or from having to carry Seokjin’s weight as he starts moving sideways, “There we go.”
They move at a snail's pace at first. Seokjin quite enjoys being this close to Jungkook. His breath his on Seokjin’s neck, hair tickling Seokjin’s chin. He smells good, almost like baby soap. He must not like heavy fragrances. Seokjin takes a mental note of that fact.
“You’re pretty good at this teaching thing. Starting to think I’m not the only guy you’ve taught,” Seokjin jokes, gripping tighter onto Jungkook’s shoulder as the board rattles from going over a slight bump in the asphalt.
“Ah, well, you’re actually the only guy. All my friends who are interested in skating already know how to do it and I don’t think Minsoo should be included in the count,” Jungkook says and pauses to consider his next words for a moment, “I tried to teach my ex to skate, but she wasn’t so thrilled with the idea.”
The end of the park comes, so Jungkook stops moving before they reach over the small patch of grass separating them from the bustling street. His eyes fall on the ground and biting down on his lip again, but this time it’s not to hold a smile back. It’s almost like he is regretting what he said. Bringing his ex-partner up like that.
Seokjin doesn’t hesitate to let go of Jungkook’s shoulder in order to curl his fingers on Jungkook’s chin. Jungkook’s gaze snaps up, eyes wide like a deer caught in the headlights and somehow, they widen even more as Seokjin tugs slightly to part his lips.
“I don’t mind you talking about her. She’s Minsoo’s mother, right?” Seokjin asks gently, waits for Jungkook to nod silently, “You mentioned her having Minsoo for the week, so I assume she’s still a pretty big part of your life.”
Jungkook looks like it’s a struggle to hold eye-contact, so Seokjin reluctantly let’s go of his chin in hopes to give him some space. Their hands stay laced together, though. Seokjin couldn’t let go of that contact even if he wanted to because Jungkook is holding on so tightly it feels impossible to ever separate.
“Yeah, she’s...we’re still good friends,” Jungkook murmurs, “I think she’s still like my best friends actually, but don’t tell Hoseok, Namjoon and Yoongi that.”
“Okay, I won’t,” Seokjin chuckles, likes the way Jungkook is slowly starting to smile again, “I’m good with that, by the way. You know, if this really is a
date
date and we want to take things further, her being around doesn’t bother me. I’d actually like to one day meet the woman who Minsoo got all his good traits from.”
Jungkook’s smiling fully again now and he rolls his eyes as he lightly pushes Seokjin’s shoulder. Seokjin yelps, scrambling to hold onto Jungkook again as he nearly loses balance on the board. The sound of Jungkook’s laughter bursts Seokjin’s eardrums, but he doesn’t mind. If he could, he’d record the sound and force Hoseok to blast it through his big speaker. Now,
that’s
music.
Once Jungkook has calmed down, he says, “You’re probably the first person whose ever been okay with us still being friends. Other people tend to get jealous when they see us together.”
“You’ve dated some insecure people then, Jeon Jungkook,” Seokjin says, “Must be nice to finally have the chance to be with someone as confident and handsome and as natural at skateboarding as I am.”
Jungkook quirks a brow. “A natural, huh? Bet I could let go of you then?”
“Don’t you dare.”
“But I thought you were confident?”
“Don’t forget about handsome. I will fully blame you if I fall on my face and my beauty gets ruined forever.”
“Right, we can’t have that,” Jungkook says with a snicker, slowly starting to move back towards where they started, “What would I look at during my coffee runs, then?”
“Not at your future boyfriend that’s for sure,” Seokjin says without thinking and then for a moment thinks a lot about if that was a mistake. But then Jungkook’s hand is on Seokjin’s waist, right over the thin line of bare skin between the hem of his shirt and jeans. His thumb caresses over the skin,
lightly, barely even there, but suddenly Seokjin has forgotten how to breathe, “Jungkook.”
Jungkook hums low in his chest. “I like the sound of that. My name coming out of your mouth, I mean.”
Falling for someone quickly is a funny thing. Seokjin doesn’t believe in love at first sight, but he does believe that some people are simply meant to be together. Sometimes, it takes a while for people to realize that, but sometimes it’s immediate. He doesn’t know if it’s like that with Jungkook, if fate has decided to tie them up together with an invisible string. He does know though, that when Jungkook first stepped into the cafe, there was an immediate pull.
“And the other part?” Seokjin asks, because if Jungkook is going to break his heart eventually, he wants it to happen before he falls so deep, he can’t crawl his way back up anymore.
Jungkook is quiet for a moment. There are a few hollers from somewhere at the park, but Seokjin keeps himself grounded with the help of Jungkook’s gentle touch on his hip, tries to pretend it’s just the two of them here. Eventually, Jungkook opens his mouth and Seokjin sucks in a breath that gets stuck in his lungs, “I’m not mad at the other part either.”
“Good to know,” Seokjin says and releases the breath he was holding, then breathes it right back in.
Jungkook grins and pats Seokjin’s hip once and Seokjin swears his eyes fall to linger on Seokjin’s lips for a brief moment before returning to his eyes. “Do you want to keep going? I think you’re ready for something other than standing.”
The something other ends up being Seokjin pushing one foot off the ground to make the board move himself. It’s a struggle at first, Seokjin kind of feels like he’s going to fall at any given moment, but Jungkook’s arms are always there to pull him back to balance at the last second.
There are multiple moments when Jungkook looks close to planting one on Seokjin’s lips, but the moment never comes. His hand has made a home in the dip of Seokjin’s waist and hip though, and the other hand still laced with Seokjin’s.
Seokjin can’t remember the last time he has laughed this much, the last time it was natural and not a forced chuckle to fill an awkward silence created by himself. Jungkook laughs right with him, that beautiful sound that makes Seokjin want to bottle it in case of bad days.
Being with Jungkook is so easy, Seokjin forgets he was on the brink of a nervous breakdown less than 24-hours ago. It’s so easy, that the time passes without either of them realizing the sun has started to set. It’s only when both of their stomachs growl comically loud at the same time that they realize they’ve been at it for hours.
“Wanna grab a bite? I know a good barbeque place not too far away,” Jungkook asks, hovering close by as Seokjin steps off the board.
Seokjin makes it back to the ground successfully and stretches his arms above his head. “Ah, that sounds good. I don’t want to think about grilling meat right now, though.”
“I could do it for you,” Jungkook suggests, “Or we could just be cheap and have convenience store ramen.”
“God, I could kiss you right now,” Seokjin blurts out and feels and immediate rush of heat rising to his ears because sometimes his body forgets he’s not a teenager that gets embarrassed about little things like that.
Jungkook doesn’t seem nearly as affected by the words, if anything he seems amused by it. “On the first date? Didn’t think you’d move so fast, Kim Seokjin.”
“I was joking.”
“Really?” Jungkook asks, tilting his head to the side and jutting his bottom lip out ever so slightly, “That’s too bad.”
Before Seokjin can even move a muscle to speak, Jungkook is walking towards his backbag and by the time Seokjin catches up with him, the moment of opportunity has slipped through his fingertips.
Damn it.
It’s silent as Jungkook helps take of the protective gear on Seokjin’s limbs, silent as he stuffs them in the bag and as they start walking across the street where the flashing lights of a convenience store beckon them inside.
They pick out their ramen,
Bibimmen
for Jungkook and
Buldak Carbonara
for Seokjin, and go sit down on the unbalanced plastic chairs outside the store where a gentle summer breeze blows on their faces. Jungkook waits for Seokjin to crack his chopstick and dig in before doing so himself. Seokjin has the urge to swat him for being so proper.
Jungkook slurps up the first of his noodles and groans, browns knitting together like he is mad at the taste. After a moment, he slaps the table too, which does nothing to ease how angry he looks. “Food of the gods.”
Seokjin stops mid slurp, stares at Jungkook as he slaps the table again, and burst into laughter that almost makes him choke on the noodles. Jungkook stills, once again looking like a deer caught in the headlights until Seokjin has managed to swallow down the food to ask, “Do you always react like that?”
“What do you mean?” Jungkook asks, oblivious as can be to his own reaction.
Seokjin takes a napkin and pats the corners of his mouth with it. “Like you’re mad at the world? Like you want to kill whoever made that food? Like you’re-”
“Okay, I got it,” Jungkook interrupts him with a whine, “I can’t help it!”
Seokjin chuckles with a shake of his head as he mixes up the noodles in his bowl. “You know, for a moment I thought you were going to say ramen is disgusting. I was scared I was going to have to reconsider this relationship.”
“What kind of relationship is this?”
The question comes right before Seokjin is about to stuff a huge bite into his mouth, so thankfully he avoids choking this time. Though, it does feel like something is still stuck in his throat. Seokjin clears it away and manages to ask, “Like...what we are?”
“Yeah, I guess so,” Jungkook mumbles, his frame shaking from how hard he has started to tap his foot under the table, “It’s just...I know it’s early, but with Minsoo, I can’t really go into any situationships or anything. Before with people, I haven’t let them meet him before we’ve had
some
certainty. With you, I’ve obviously skipped that phase completely. I’m not asking for a label for us just yet, but I think I need to know what you’re feeling before I go any further. Open communication and all. Sorry if that sounds stupid and you think I’m totally crazy.”
Jungkook ends with an awkward laugh and he’s avoiding eye-contact like it’s his profession. His fist is clenched on top of the table, thumbnail digging into his pointer. Seokjin reaches his hand out to lay it on top of the fist.
“Hey,” Seokjin starts, caressing his thumb over Jungkook’s knuckles. The touch seems to ease Jungkook’s mind a little as the clenched fist loosens under Seokjin’s palm, “I don’t think any of that is stupid. Open communication is always good, doesn’t matter if it’s on the first date or the hundredth, so I’m actually glad you brought it up. I’m getting too old for situationships anyway.”
That earns Seokjin a snort and Jungkook’s eyes back on him rather than the abandoned bowl of noodles or the skateboarders across the street. “True. You’re pretty much ancient.”
“And you’re a brat!” Seokjin exclaims, slapping Jungkook’s hand lightly before placing it back on top of it, “What I was saying is, I’m not looking for a short-term relationship either. I like you Jungkook. A lot. I can’t remember the last time I liked anyone this much after such a short time. If we decide to go on with this, I’m not planning on half-assing it. And I really want to go on.”
“Cool."
Silence. Seokjin waits in silence for Jungkook to continue, but as the seconds go by and the only thing happening is a grin slowly rising on Jungkook’s lips, Seokjin lifts his free hand in the air and waves it in front of Jungkook’s face. “Cool? Is that the only thing you have to say? After I basically poured my heart out for you? Seriously-”
“Your lips are really pretty, Jin,” Jungkook interrupts him, “Can I kiss you?”
“Oh.”
Seokjin’s mind short-circuits, exactly like a computer blue screening after running a game for too long. All he can do, without really even realizing it, is give a small nod and then Jungkook is leaning forward with that beautiful grin on his lips.
He stops a few inches away, most likely waiting for Seokjin to be the one to close the distance. So, that’s exactly what Seokjin does.
To the outside world, their first kiss probably doesn’t seem like anything grand. Maybe it even seems like they’ve done it a thousand times before, because that’s what if feels like to Seokjin. The first one is short, simply a slight press of his lips against Jungkook’s before they pull away just enough to look each other in the eye.
Suddenly, Jungkook’s free hand is at the nape of Seokjin’s neck, fingers simply twirling around the overgrown hair before burying in them completely and scratching his scalp gently. Then he is pulling Seokjin’s face towards him again, slotting their lips together more fiercely than before.
Kissing Jungkook tastes like the cheap ramen that’s quickly growing cold between them, like the beginning of something new and uncertain brewing on a warm summer evening.
When Jungkook eventually pulls away, Seokjin instinctively chases after him. Jungkook laughs brightly, looking like glee personified, and obliges Seokjin with one final chaste peck before leaning back on his chair.
Seokjin lingers, body leaned forward and ready for more. Oh god, he can’t wait to have more. More of the kisses. More of these evenings spent on dates. More of Jungkook. More of
anything
that makes his heart race like this again.
He wants more to the point when it feels like his chest will burst and then some more. He wants everything.