Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Yeonjun is going to Jin's comfort café, but he is not in a good mood. He had a long tiring day, and he just wanted to go home, to be honest. But he promised Jin that he would come after classes if he had nothing else to do.

He knows that he'll get easily distracted at home and that he has taken on the bad habit of sleeping at the library. So maybe studying at the coffee shop and having someone looking after him will help his case? 

He pushes the door and enters the warm place.  It felt good to be hugged in such a cozy place, the smell of coffee and fresh pastries filled him up sweetly. His cousin really did a great job. The only people behind the counter were Jin's little brother Taehyung and an unfamiliar waiter. Yeonjun approached him.  

"Oh hi junnie! You actually came! Jin Hyung will be happy to see you're making an effort! ". He smiled big.  

"Hi...  Well, it's not like I had the choice...". Yeonjun said with pouty lips. "Anyway, where is he? I thought he was supposed to supervise me."

"Right, he's really busy lately so I'm alone during the week and he's taking over during the weekend" Yeonjun started to smile devilishly. "Don't smile like this! I have to keep an eye on you, and I ain't letting you go easily! Your grades are now my responsibility too." Taehyung had to remind him, that even though he was all sweet he wouldn't let Yeonjun breathe either. 

"Whatever... Do I have a free coffee at least?". The youngest asks making his cousin sigh heavily.  

"Just for today though, we have money to gain!".  

"Thank you! You're the best, I'm going to take a sit." 

Yeonjun smiled happily and went to find the perfect place in a corner of the café, still making sure to have a wide view of the other tables. He enjoyed observing people. It made him feel good. It was like watching different movies but on one big screen. He could just try to imagine stories for each of the clients; he might be here to study but still, no one can control his creative mind anyway. A group of friends, high schoolers precisely according to their uniforms, were chatting and laughing all together. A couple, they are silent,  probably going to break up today, that's sad and he doesn't want sad emotions today so he switches to another table.  

There, on a table near a window, is a really adorable boy. The cutest he has had until now seen. With dusky auburn hair, delicate cheeks, and round glasses. He was wearing a fluffy beige sweater and reading a book that looked worn out, and old, that the passionate guy might have eagerly read over and over again. But his glittering eyes were still absorbed by it, still fascinated, reading like it was undoubtedly the very first time. Yeonjun was breathless, and his heart was beating more soundly than usual. He didn't understand what was happening, it wasn't the first person he saw reading but he somewhat wanted nothing but to admire him all day.

Yeonjun was interrupted by the waiter bringing him his order. He smiled gently noticing that Taehyung gave him a chocolate chip cookie too, it's his favorite. 

"Thank you..."  He reads 'Jungkook' on his nametag.  "Jungkook-ssi."

The shy boy smiled and bowed down.  "You're welcome."

Before he could go back, Yeonjun called him back. "Can you tell Taehyungie Hyung to come when he has some time?"

Jungkook nodded rapidly. "Of course, enjoy your food."  


He needs to know if this cute boy came here often. Yeonjun started to think about how he could possibly approach him without freaking him out but was interrupted by Taehyung's gaze from afar indicating to him that he should start working now.

Chapter Text

Taehyung finally sat in front of Yeonjun once he could catch a break from work.

"How is this study session going on?" He asks as Yeonjun is typing on his laptop.

"Good," He lifts his head from his screen smiling as if he wasn't going through it with his essay. "I'll say that I'm doing my best?"

"Nice to see you take it seriously," Taehyung smirks, as if he enjoyed seeing him suffer as college was far behind him, "So, you asked for me to come? How can I help?"

"Oh! Yes, does this cutie come here often?" Taehyung frowns.

"Which one?" Yeonjun rolls his eyes.

"As if it was hard to guess, the sweater and round glasses over there," he points with his chin in a direction next to a window.

Taehyung turns around but sees nothing, the table is empty. "Are you seeing ghosts now?" he snorts. Yeonjun looks up and the cute boy is nowhere to be seen.

Yeonjun groans, "Oh no he left... Are you sure you don't know him? Auburn hair? Round glasses? Reading an old book?"

Taehyung thinks for a moment and suddenly gets an epiphany, "Ooh! Caramel macchiato with extra caramel and always asks for his chocolate cookie to be heated in the oven."

"Oh my god! Does this mean he's a regular?" Yeonjun asks excitedly looking at his cousin expectantly.

"Mhm... He comes from time to time, irregularly but he never misses coming every Friday afternoon to read." He says with a cheeky smile, "Does it mean that you'll come often to study?"

Yeonjun pouts focusing back on his work, "I didn't say that..."

Taehyung laughs as he goes back to his counter. 

Yeonjun is already planning his next visit.

Chapter Text

Yeonjun came back often to the café, always looking for a cute guy with glasses. He came every day but wasn't able to find him for a whole week and didn't dare to ask his cousin. He wasn't ready for any teasing so he patiently waited for Friday afternoon. He was sure to at least find him.

And he did.

He was sitting at the same table. Reading the same book. Having the same order. He was wearing this time a red Christmas sweater with reindeer motifs. He looks as cute as the last time he saw him. It was hard for Yeonjun to focus. He even got bored of looking at other tables to play his usual game. The only thing that mattered to him now was a boy sitting by the window. 

Yeonjun sighs as he cups his head in his hand. Wondering what he could do now. He decides that today isn't a good day and just looks at him from afar for now.

Next week he'll come back with a solid plan. He looks down at his work notes because his exams are around the corner, meaning: for the next week. After that, he'll be free for the Christmas holidays.

.

.

Yeonjun feels spent from his exams but at least they're done and behind him. He still shows up at the café on Friday. If he doesn't have an assignment he'll make up some just to see the boy. 

"Is this my studious cousin? Coming even after your exams?" Taehyung smirks at him knowing the reason behind his visit.

Yeonjun ignores his cousin and addresses Jungkook instead. "I'll have a latte please and..." he whispers to him as Taehyung goes to prepare an order for a client. "a chocolate chip cookie heated up for the guy reading by the window," Yeonjun shows him. Jungkook smiles and keeps his secret safe.

"Should I tell him who it's from?" Jungkook asks. 

"Hum... no, not yet. Oh, wait!" He takes a post-it from his backpack and writes a message. 

'When are you comin' back to the café? - Your secret admirer'

"Here give him this, he can give you his answer." Yeonjun smiles proudly, "Oh, and you must be the one delivering it, don't let Hyung see it!"

.

Yeonjun gets his order from Jungkook and watches expectantly when he gives the order to his crush. He could see his pretty eyes widen as he thanked the waiter and his brows frowning as he read the note.

When he lifts his head to scrutinize the café to guess who paid for the cookie. Yeonjun dips his head in his laptop acting busy. 

He misses the boy's sigh as he goes back to his reading.

When he leaves, Yeonjun gets a note from Jungkook with pretty handwriting. 

'Maybe come every day to figure it out?'

Yeonjun sighed, he didn't get any new information. Maybe he'll have to come every day and spend his days here until he shows up again. Yeonjun sees the positive aspect of the situation, he'll save on electricity. His bill won't be as high. 

Chapter Text

Yeonjun showed up at the café every day, from the opening to the closing. So much that Taehyung got sick of seeing him. If Jin was happy to see him on the weekend, the youngest brother kept teasing Yeonjun consistently. The guy didn't show up until Wednesday.

It was 10 AM when Yeonjun caught him entering the coffee shop, ordering, and sitting by his table. It wasn't a highly frequentation hour, Yeonjun was scared of being caught if he manifested himself too early. He waited for a bit more people to come in to treat him to another cookie with a note.

'Caught you! What's this book you're always reading?"

Yeonjun takes extra precautions to go to the bathroom the moment Jungkook serves the guy, he peaks an eye from the slit of the door. It seems like the stranger is even more surprised than the first time. Yeonjun can't wait to figure out his next note.

He doesn't see him eat the cookie; instead, he wraps it in a napkin and puts it in his bag. Yeonjun pouts in disappointment. 'Maybe it was too much to eat. Next time, I'll pay him his drink or something,' he thinks. 

From time to time, he sees the boy looking around him. He's probably curious by now. 

Later as he leaves, Yeonjun quickly picks up the note he got. 

"Didn't think you'd actually do what I said... that's creepy.

Who are you exactly?

I'm not telling you about my book until I know who you are."

Yeonjun is frustrated, that's not what he wanted to come off as! He wanted to be romantic and that's what he got for that. He'll need to make it up to him.

.

On Friday instead of a cookie he sends him a caramel candy instead of the usual cookie with a note. 

"sorry didn't mean to scare you off...

Here is a candy as a truce. 

I can't tell you who I am yet, but what I can say is that my cousins run this place. That's why I know your order and wanted to treat you."

The cute boy is confused as he gets a candy this time. Yeonjun observes him discretely and smiles when he sees him eating the candy in the middle of his reading. Adorable.

... Okay, but it's still creepy. 

How old are you?

I'll trust that the cute waiter won't deliver me a creep's notes. 

Chapter Text

Yeonjun sighs when he reads the note. He got called a creep again, but not really. He still has room for improvement. 

I'm 21, and you?

I'm not a creep... Just too shy to come see you. 

Yeonjun sends the note right away, risking being caught; he doesn't want to wait for another week. 

He sees the stranger looking around, surprised; they usually only exchange one note.

I'm 20.

Why are you shy?

Yeonjun smiles apologetically at Jungkook for the back and forth.

"Tell me whenever you take a break, I'll pay for your coffee." He smiles, and Jungkook shakes his head with a smile. 

"You don't need to. You're probably broke from all the time you spend here already." He says, taking the note. 

"You're right." Yeonjun pouts. 

Jungkook hands the note during his next round of serving. 

Because I'm scared I wouldn't be your type...

But hey at least we know each other's age! 

Also.. would you mind sharing numbers? I feel bad for the waiter, that's too many post it. 

The next note takes time to arrive. Yeonjun sighs, thinking that maybe he will stop replying. At 6 PM, Yeonjun finally leaves, as he bids farewell to his cousin, Jungkook calls him.

"Here, he gave you this and wanted you to take it home instead." Jungkook doesn't hand him a Post-it but a letter. 

He takes it, as if it were the most valuable thing in the world. "Thank you!" 

Yeonjun almost runs to his dorm. He gets rid of his coat and shoes and throws away his bag. He sits at his small and cramped desk and opens the letter. 

Dear Stranger,

You're right, the waiter is too kind to be treated this way, especially since you didn't have the decency of paying him. How rude of you by the way. 

I asked him if you weren't an old creepy pervert and he confirmed me your age. I trust him so I'll indulge these exchanges between us. 

I'm not comfortable giving you my number. Sharing letters is fine by me. I hope it's fine by you because that's the only option I'm giving you. 

I'm wondering why you're so scared of not being my type but not scared of coming off as a creep. That's odd. What could be so wrong about you for me to reject you?

But I admit that you intrigue me. If I can't know for now who you are, then tell me things about yourself?

Are you studying? What is your major?

Also, what's your usual order? It's only fair for me to know that much since you know mine. 

—Caramel Machiatto

Yeonjun smiles by the end of the letter. It might be just a few lines, but it already gives him a glimpse of the stranger's personality. And he absolutely loves it.