mirae sangmin (khael) x junhyuk 

pretty barista 

sangmin adores everything about the little cafe: the coffee, the people, and the barista working the register 

⭒☆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━☆⭒

   The cafe on the corner of Sangmin's street is his favorite place in the world. He acknowledges the snorts and comments he gets about it being cliche and straight out some trashy rom-com, but he can't help it. He loves the atmosphere, for it reminded him of being snowed in one time during winter break and all he did was drink hot chocolate and sleep. The place was rustic yet modern, cozy yet crowded, and homely yet so foreign because each time he'd enter the small shop, he'd leave with another piece of information about it stored in his head, as useless as it may be.

   But what he has yet to tell anyone - besides his roommate that pestered him beyond belief about it, then preceded to tell his entire friend group about - was the reason he frequents the cafe more than the next raging coffee addict is because of the handsome barista.

   When he walked into the cafe one cloudy October morning, music loud enough for the people around him to throw glares his way, he took in the place: brown wooden walls, wood panel seats and chalkboard menus, flowing plants with dainty leaves and great swinging potted plants with sweeping leaves. It was cute, and when he looked up at the menu, Sangmin stopped midway. In the three times he's stumbled in here, he's never seen that man before, let alone someone as handsome as him.

   He remembers inwardly vomiting at the thought, but as he clutched his backpack strap tighter after watching the barista blow strings of hair from his eyes and bashfully smile, Sangmin knew this would turn into something dangerous. Not something that would get him in trouble - he was far from being labeled adventurous or bold - but something that would milk him of his paychecks, squeeze him till he finally caves in and enters the cafe just to see that boxy smile.

   Sangmin pitied himself, he really did. However, to him, it was worth it; he was willing to drop three bucks on a mocha or a drink with way too much espresso that it gave him the shakes because that's what the barista did to him. His dazzling smile lit up his face, pushed his cheeks up and stamped his eyes into thin lines, and Sangmin had clamp his fist close to prevent himself from reaching out and pinching his cheeks. And his voice, oh Sangmin couldn't get enough of it; what was typically robotic for others was full of life and joy for him. It made him feel special.

   "He's only being extra nice to you so you can spend more money at their damn shop." His roommate Siyoung said, furiously crossing out yet another wrong answer. He threw his pencil down and instead focused himself on aiming the multiple empty coffee cups cluttering the desk into the trash can. "And boy is it hilarious to watch you fall for it every time."

   "Can you for once feed into my delusions?" Sangmin desperately asked, hanging off his bed. He watched as the other missed, and hid his snicker before Siyoung could throw a cup his way.

   "Last time I did that you got humiliated in the middle of the school's library, and frankly, I don't want to deal with strangers asking me for the video again."

   Another coffee cup bounced off the rim of the trash. Sangmin groaned and thread his fingers through his hair. "I can't keep doing this."

   Siyoung whooped and shot out of his chair, clapping. "I can." The older looked up and frowned. "What?! Free entertainment and I get to improve my argumentative skills. It's a win-win."

   "Fuck off."

   Siyoung, along with his other friends, have repeatedly told him how absurd his obsession with the barista has gotten; he began to visit the cafe twice a day, and oh did it irk the other workes beyond reason. They used Sangmin against the pretty barista, cracking harmless jokes and calling him 'boyfie' just to see the man get flustered and take the younger's order with red cheeks.

   Admittedly, Sangmin knew it was odd, creepy even, to visit the cafe twice a day during his school days, but it was hard to avoid - courtesy of his friends. They never let the subject drop, loving the way Sangmin reeled back and would nearly spill his lunch, or flinch and slap his hand over their mouths in an attempt not to let others hear, only for him to attract eyes because of the slap. It drove Sangmin to near insanity, and the only way to calm down after such a stressful day was, you guessed it, the cafe.

   "Oh, here's an idea." Dohyun - close friend and tutor of Sangmin - said through a mouthful of slushee, "Maybe Pretty Barista is being nice to you because he's afraid you'll kidnap him."

   Siyoung abruptly stopped sipping and coughed loudly. "Did you pull that out of your ass?! What kind of reason is that?"

   "A plausible one!"

   "I don't think smiling like he's seen a puppy equals being scared." Sangmin mumbled, stirring his blue slush.

   Dohyun shrugged and pulled the straw out of his mouth. "Maybe he's good at acting."

   "Maybe you're just stu -"

   A fistful of napkins stopped Siyoung from finishing; and frankly, Sangmin couldn't stand anymore friendly bullying.

   After going to bed early because his blue raspberry slushee nearly made him sick, Sangmin awoke the next morning with a splitting headache; walking felt like a chore, his vision swam each time he stood up, and nothing sounded appetizing expect for a nice iced latte. The thought of it made Sangmin's legs shake, and he downed some medicine and rushed to his car.

   Thankfully, he got to the cafe without veering into oncoming traffic, and when he entered the shop, it was like he got stripped of his headache. Like when he stepped across the threshold, hands that smelt of coffee and felt like warm summer wind peeled off his problems and hanged them just outside, ready to pick up when he was done. He slid in line and scanned the menu; he already knew what he wanted - iced latte with a splash of milk - but he couldn't look anywhere else or his eyes would glue to the barista's styled ponytail.

   As he waited in line, Sangmin tried convincing himself that the boy's sudden change in hair was because of him; he wanted to impress him, get him to look, to stare. 'Tough luck, mister, I already know the game you're trying to play!'

   "Hey Sangmin, how's it going?" He flashed the younger a dazzling smile.

   "Not too good." He grumbled, fishing through his pockets for his wallet.

   "The usual then?"

   "Nope. Iced latte with a little milk."

   "Ooh, look at you." The older wiggled his shoulders and poked the screen before him. "Being all brave and such."

   Sangmin grinned weakly. "Have a raging headache." He handed him his card.

   "Then let me get you something else." The boy looked up and handed the card back. His eyes were sincere and concerned, and it sent a jolt through Sangmin.

   "No thanks bud, I'm go -"

   "Shush and lemme fix you a sandwich to go." He turned and his ponytail wagged like a happy dog's tail.

   "Junhyuk I'm -"

   "Shut up. You're getting a sandwich whether you like it or not." He swiveled around and smiley sickly-sweet.

   Sangmin held his hands up and chuckled. "Alright, go for it."

   "Besides, you'll eat anything I make you." The younger froze. "Hey Yubin, cover for me at the register."

   Junhyuk stalked into the kitchen of the cafe as Sangmin walked over to a table in a daze; he was internally panicking, mind going a thousand miles an hour because 'oh my God, does he know? Of course he does, you're so damn obvious. But I thought he had a boyfriend, seeing as he was all over that Yubin guys a couple weeks ago. But isn't that boy like 17? And Junhyuk is around 2 -'

   "Iced latte and crossiant sandwich for the cutie in the grey!"

   Sangmin picked his head off his knuckle and looked up. He locked eyes with Junhyuk, and glanced down. He's wearing grey, a grey button-up. He looked around; no one else is wearing grey except for a pregnant woman, but she's with her husband. He looked back at Junhyuk with eyes the size of dinner plates and a mouth hung open so wide you could see the back of Sangmin's throat, and pointed at himself.

   "Yes, you dork! Now come get your food before it ruins."

   Sangmin, in a sort of embarrassed frenzy, shot up from his chair and rushed over to snatch his sandwich and drink from the barista. Junhyuk was a giggling mess the whole time, finding how flustered and bewildered the younger had gotten to be endearing and charming in a way. The former watched Sangmin exit the cafe with way to much noise, and he heard a grunt behind him.

   "Slick."

   He turned around to face Yubin, crossed-armed and frowning.

   "I'd like to see you try and top that."

   "You haven't got the guts to call back Mrs. Drive Thru, and how long have you had her number? Two weeks?" Junhyuk snickered whilst Yubin groaned. "I, my lovely coworker, just secured myself a date." 

⭒☆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━☆⭒

kinda slay kinda yuck

BITCH OX FULL ALBUM OMG I CANT BREEATHE IM LIGHTHEADED THEY  NEVER FUCKING MISS CONTROL DRY FLOWER VENUS SLAYYYYY

sorry bout that,,,,,they're my ults,,,,,,yechan meow

till next time <3