The aroma of freshly brewed coffee hit her as soon as she stepped inside. Breathing in the familiar scent was enough to wake her up.

It was a Sunday, meaning there were no college classes to attend. So-eun could have just stayed in, catch up on some sleep that she had missing for the past couple of days. But that was not something she could consider. So, with her heavy textbooks in her bag, she headed over to the coffee shop.

If there were any reason other than to get a head start on their next lesson, she wouldn't admit it.

The place had just opened for the day and she was their first customer. With her headphones on, music playing into her ears, and her eyes fixated on her book, she hadn't realized the other people walking in. She hadn't even noticed when someone sat at her table, on the seat across from her, until she emptied her cup of coffee and looked up.

She squeaked in surprise, sliding her headphones down to rest on her shoulders. "You startled me! Why didn't you say anything?"

Jeon Wonwoo smiled. "You looked lost in your own world," he said, "I didn't want to disturb you."

"Well, who told you to sit here?" She looked around the shop, seeing a few empty tales. "There's so many other seats."

He scoffed. "I didn't think you would mind, especially when you asked to share a table so many times before."

She shrugged. "Okay, then."

"So, did you like them?" he asked.

She nodded. "More than I thought I would," she answered, seeing a grin spread across his lips.

"That's good," he mumbled. "So, what's that you're studying? I don't think I've asked what your major is."

"Well, I haven't really asked you either," she said. "I'm doing pre-med. And I'm studying for a surprise quiz in Biology."

He frowned upon hearing the word 'surprise' but did not comment on that. Instead, he just asked, "Is that really all you do? Just study, study, study?"

"I need good grades to pass the course," she answered as if it weren't obvious. "I have to be ready for anything our professor throws at us."

"No, I know that," Wonwoo said, "I mean, it's all I see you do. Don't you ever do anything else?"

"I don't always have my face buried in a book, you know. I take naps when I can." It was not a lie, entirely. Sleep and food was only second on her list of priorities. She wouldn't mind skipping a meal or nap time if it meant she was keeping her grades in check.

"I meant for fun. Do you not go out on trips with your friends?"

She only shrugged. Going out on adventures had never been in her interests, nor did she really have any friends she would go on trips with. Of course, there was Soo-ah, but she was never really convinced road trips were any good. Looking for a reason to change the subject, she noticed the lack of a coffee cup, or any of the cafe's menu, on his side of the table. "Didn't you order anything? I'm sure I didn't take so long to finish my coffee." It was still warm when she had finished it off.

His cheeks were tinted a shade of red as he confessed. "I saw you when I walked in," he said. "I guess I just forgot to order."

She let out a small laugh, finding the situation amusing. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you've got a little crush on me."

He shook his head. "It's not that," he mumbled, regaining his confidence. "But then again, you don't really know that well."

"Is this you confirming that crush?" she joked with an eyebrow raised.

"Pabo," he called her, "Don't put words into my mouth." But he was also laughing a bit.

And the realization that he hadn't denied her claim brought a bout of butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

It was he who spoke, bringing her out of thoughts. "So, you have quite the music taste," he said. "It's not hard to figure out why you like what you do."

She had almost forgotten that she herself had suggested a few songs to him. "Really? Well, what do you really think? You're not really being direct about it." She had always respected others' opinions, but she almost felt nervous about his opinion.

Subjectivity. That was the beauty of music. It wasn't something that everyone had to agree on--not like how molecules with higher energy were less stable than those with lower energy or that meiosis produced four gametes--but something that could so many different things.

So she understood why people might dislike her favorite music. Yet she found herself anticipating his answer, a small bit of anxiety igniting and waiting to become a wildfire.

"I like it."

And then it dissipated into relief.

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a/n: hello! long time no post, but i do apologize for that. i'm currently busy with school requirements--and contemplating on whether to shift my major--so i hope you can forgive me :)

have you guys heard the new BTS songs yet? A Supplementary Story: You Never Walk Alone is probably my favorite, aside from Spring Day lol if you haven't listened to it, you should go and listen to it. you probably won't regret it