Café Shooky

Usually when a school day concluded some students would hang back until the late hours of the evening to sometimes participate in any extracurricular activities or more simply to just complete their homework but since it was the first day of school the vast majority decided to head out.

This included Sooyeong, even though she hadn't jotted down any notes for the latter part of the day. Mostly because it was the least of her concern. All she needed was some head space and fresh air before Dansae could catch her in another mouse trap like he did earlier.

His actions really hurt her and it made her feel like a wasted space. Therefore, to get back into spirits, she decided to head down to Café Shooky, alone.

As she entered the warm toasty café, the bell above the transparent door chimed but once she was inside it felt as if she was automatically transported into a concoction of both Webtoon and Line Friends. The art and graphics on the colour-splashed walls that surrounded the café gave it such a youthful and cuddly feeling, which was one of the main reasons why it attracted so many students in the first place.

The art and graphics (which mostly included of a brown cookie who created a lot chaos and showed his clear hate for milk yet dire appreciation for bread) was inspired by Min Yoongi's ideas. Thereafter, it was then designed and brought to life by Jung Hoseok - the two men who Ahro seemed to hate so passionately yet they had done nothing wrong to her.

In any case, Hoseok aspires to be a great webtoonist one day and has high hopes to one day create a webtoon that would make him a whopping amount of cash so he could live a more comfortable life but for now, as he searches for inspiration, he works at this prestigious place.

On the other hand there was Yoongi - who owned the said café. This place became his second home and it meant everything to him. Sooyeong's father had helped him out with a start up loan and with that he built this empire of happiness.

Though it took much blood, sweat and tears - he persevered and eventually conquered. He had bought an ordinary empty single story store and turned it into something extraordinary.

Plus, he was even able to pay off the loan within a year's time and despite being the owner he checks into work everyday because he was that dedicated.

Min Yoongi was a true success story.

"Hoseok Oppa! Yoongi Oppa!" Sooyeong grabbed their attention amidst their busyness, seeing as students had flocked here, as expected.

Hoseok turned to look from the pastry section with bright smiles and cheers, and Yoongi sent her a small gummy smile from the cash register.

This sight always seemed to amuse Sooyeong because it always reminded her of both SpongeBob and Squidward since Hoseok was always so optimistic and Yoongi never dyed his hair any other colour except for mint (but contrary to the green squid, Yoongi loved his job).

"How is my little sunshine doing?" Hoseok pelted from his workstation as he and a fellow employee boxed up tasty looking treats for customers.

"I wish I could say I'm a shining solo but today I'm not shining so bright." She answered and leaned on the empty side of the counter but Hoseok only an raised eyebrow at her choice of words. "Tired. I mean, tired."

"Hoseok ah seriously. How could you not get what she meant." Yoongi shot loudly, since the cash register divided the pastry and beverage section. "And you call yourself Hobi. I am disgusted."

"Yah!" Hoseok fired back and Sooyeong only chuckled at their interaction. "Don't start and would you like anything Sooyeong? Boss man will cover it." He smirked at Yoongi as he sent the last batch of boxes out.

"Yah!" Yoongi yelled, and flung a sugar sachet at Hoseok. "Obviously it'll be on the house. Anything for this kid."

"Aish." She sighed as she eyed the treats. Sooyeong wasn't much of a dessert person but she would have her fair share now and then. "Can I get a packet of the Shooky cookies to go please?"

"Of course!" Hoseok chirped and quickly got to packing.

While Yoongi had been cashing in the last two customers (for now) Sooyeong pulled out her purse and took out the exact cash for the treats. Once Yoongi was done and Hoseok still boxing up the fish-looking treats, she placed the money on the counter.

"What did I just say kid-"

"Shut up and take my galleons." Sooyeong stifled a laugh.

"Will you ever stop with the Harry Potter references!" A sugar sachet went flying toward her torso but she only laughed. "And employees get a discount pabo. Half price, come on." Yoongi informed before Sooyeong sheepishly handed him half the amount - she completely forget about the employee discount.

"All's done!" Hoseok exclaimed and handed her the paper bag. "Also, I believe some of your friends are at the Genius Lab. I think you should go see them before you leave."

The Genius Lab, a legendary idea thought out by legend himself; Yoongi. It referred to the part of the café that was designated for students. Therefore, it acted as a study area. It allowed a change of environment from the usual library or school surrounding so it made students feel more at ease whenever they hit the books.

"Oh?" Sooyeong looked puzzled. "Alright. I will. Thank you." She bowed before turning to leave. "Have a good afternoon Oppa's."

"Yah! Kid, one more thing." Yoongi called after her. "I'm sure that Taehyung kid already informed you but take a few more days off. You don't need to rush back to work."

"But-"

"No buts." He reprimanded. "Your father did a lot for me. The least I can do is give you my support."

She acknowledged his words with a soft smile, "Alright fine, and thank you." She gave a bow, once more before she turned to head off to find her mystery friends.

She pondered on who might it be but a smile had immediately crept onto her lips when she suddenly thought about those five cute cinnamon rolls who she'd sometimes give a hand on with their Algebra homework.

She quickly ushered her way to the back end. All the while she passed by chatty students and flocks of clicks until finally five heads reared into view. All of which were seated at a single booth.

Her suspicions were confirmed on the spot. It most definitely were those cinnamon rolls who had so happened to have vacuumed her up so deep into the Harry Potter fandom.

They called themselves TXT mostly because in accordance with school, tomorrow they'll be together again - which Sooyeong found utterly cute because it low-key showed the value they had for their friendship with each other.

"Yah!" She beamed, grabbing their attention. "How are my favourite boys?" She stopped beside their table.

"Oh! Sooyeong noona!" All five of them exclaimed and bowed in their seat.

"We're doing just fine and you?" The one with blue hair spoke, a slight pout accompanied his lips.

"As Ron Weasley would say, bloody brilliant, Yeonjun ah." She joked and chuckled softly. She'd rather not give them a reason to worry. "And I see Taehyun ah is doing magic card tricks again..." She looked over at the thinner boy with cute doe eyes and distinct cheekbones.

"He's gotten better over the winter break." Beomgyu informed with a smile. His features are soft and delicate.

"It's good to have a hobby. That's good Taehyun ah. Keep it up." She encouraged with a sweet smile and he returned the smile.

"Aish, Kai ah. Make some place for noona to sit down." Soobin playfully scolded but the younger listened and shuffled to make space.

"Oh no, it's fine." Her heart warmed at their sweetness. "I need to get going soon."

"But noona!" Hueningkai hollered, and gripped on to her hand. "We need to tell you something important!"

She looked puzzled and her lips parted, "Important?"

"And you're gonna want to sit down for this." Taehyun piped after halting his card tricks.

Nevertheless, she quickly shuffled beside Hueningkai and awaited for the boys to spill their important news.

"There's a new café that's going to open up in Hongdae in late May." Soobin simply stated and his eyes sparkled in bliss.

"Okay... but doesn't that mean more competition for Yoongi Oppa?" She questioned.

"This place is a breeding ground for high school memories. People are still going to come here, don't worry your brain noona." Yeonjun assured and gave her his infamous smile.

"And the new café is apparently five stories high," Beomgyu suddenly spoke, his hands flying into the air and Sooyeong's eyes widened in shock as she followed it. "Plus! It's Harry Potter themed!"

Sooyeong's mouth hung agape the instant he uttered those words. Their news completely took her by surprise but unlike her, the boys simply cheered with claps after their happy announcement.

"Are you for real?" her voice held disbelief.

"Yes!" They hollered in unison.

"And the first few days will definitely be a rush so we were thinking that the best day to go would be on your birthday." Hueningkai suggested and the rest nodded in approval.

Sooyeong could only stare at them doe eyed. Their kindness transcended more than she could ever ponder especially because it seemed as if these boy's thoroughly thought out this breaking news before telling her about it.

This news of theirs cheered her up but at the same time it also made her feel utterly special in the process unlike Dansae's harsh doing from earlier.

"So... what do you say noona?" Taehyun pressed sweetly. "And you can invite some of your friends from school and the hyung's too. It'll be bloody brilliant."

She finally managed to pull herself together despite her puddled heart.

"I can't believe all of you. I really don't deserve this but it'll be such a lovely birthday gift. Thank you." She genuinely stated, and engulfed Hueningkai into a side hug. "Wait - is the café called Leaky Cauldron?"

"No." Soobin laughed at her adorable sight. "It's called 934 King's Cross and you should really look forward to it because you deserve everything because you're the kindest noona!"

"Platform nine and three quarters..." Sooyeong oohed, completely mesmerized, "It'll definitely be worthwhile! You guys really are amazing!" She squished Soobin's cheeks.

Thereafter, shy laughs and smiles had unfolded from all of them and a short while later, after catching up a bit and helping them out with some of their homework, Sooyeong said her good-byes to the young men but as she left Café Shooky she couldn't help but feel at so much more ease than earlier.

Good friends really did make all the difference in a person's life since all of the adversities could easily be forgotten, even if it was just for a moment. It still meant something and that something was friendship.

Friendship was the best therapy and right now, it was all Sooyeong needed to feel whole again which she felt could ultimately make things right in her heart and maybe her life.

As she walked, a sigh left her lips, and soon enough she reached the crossing line against a busy street. She stood still for a while, waiting for the road to clear out, and she stole a glance at the evening sky.

"I just pray things would get easier for my weakening heart and that Taehyung doesn't find out about what Dansae had done."

Her palms clutched over her chest.

"He doesn't deserve to be hurt anymore than I am."

A U T H O R ' S N O T E

DID Y'ALL SEE MY TXT BABIES IN THEIR HOGWARTS CLOAKS (in the media at the top). I'M QUAKIING. I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!

Also, here is the Café Shooky aesthetics! ↓

And lastly...

I'm so sorry for clowning Hoseok and Yoongi like that but SpongeBob is a huge part of my life. 😌

Author Lu 💜