The Barista

Chapter 1

It all started when I was younger. I was quite a chubby kid and was regularly picked on by the popular athletic kids. Ever since then, my tendency for staying home and not meeting others grew on me. It became a terrible habit of mine when I was—

"Taehyung?" Yoongi asked clicking his fingers in front of my face. "What?" I snarled as he woke me from my daydream.

Yoongi was the only friend I had growing up. He stuck by me and all my troubles of being a round pudgy child. Not that it was ever bad. I was just constantly told it was. Now that I think back, he was so skinny he probably just stuck around me for my food.

"TAEHYUNG!" He yells. "Yes.."I trailed, trying to hold in my everlasting anger. He just clicked his tounge and scoffed at me. "Do you know what today is?" He quizzed. "Ummmm...it's Tuesday". He shook his head in disappointment. "It's Friday" he corrected. "So what? Why should I have to know that?" I hissed. "Hey! Don't talk to me like that. Do you want me to leave you and never come back!" He roared. "I'm sorry hyung. I just don't see the big problem" I apologised. "It's a big problem because you've been cooped up in this house for 2 weeks. You haven't even opened up the windows, let alone the curtains ". I just sit back in the couch and avert my look to the floor, feeling a scolding coming on. He marches to the windows and opens the curtains to reveal the blinding light of the sun. He opens the windows to let in the fresh and flowery smell of the breeze. He shoots his devilish glare at me and narrows his eyes. "You have to get out of here. Now" he demands. "WHAT! NO WAY I CAN SMELL AND SEE THE OUTSIDE I AM FINE" I tell while deeply inhaling the oxygen. "Shower and get changed now. I'm taking you out of this shit hole of a house" he commands. Reluctantly, I get up and take a long hot and soothing shower. I try to ease myself into knowing that he will surely make me go talk to people which kind of scares me. As much as I love seeing people, I hate talking to them. I get out the shower and get changed into some nice clothes.

I meet Yoongi in the kitchen who is munching on a few snacks. "Are you ready to go now?" He asks. "No" I mutter. "Cheer up loser, I'll drive us". "Where are we even going?" I question. "It's a famous café in Seoul, I'm sure you'll love it. Especially since you like taking pictures, I heard it's very 'aesthetically pleasing' to look at" he says. "Can we just go and get this over with, I'm not gonna enjoy it so you can take pictures of me suffering" I sulk. I toss the my camera to him and storm out the front door.

•••

After a 20 minute car ride we finally arrive, Yoongi cheerfully takes a seat at a table and slides his credit card across the table to me. "Hyung please I'm already here. Isn't that enough?" I plead. He shakes his head then proceeds to take out his phone and text someone. "One iced americano" he smirks. I groan and get up from the table. I go over to the cashier and fumble over my words just a little tiny bit. "Uhhh, j-just a ummmm. I would l-like a, ummm" I pause. I take a deep breath and try to think. My gaze wonders over to the baristas who are diligently making the caffeinated drinks. My eyes fall upon a tall and quite muscular man, he seems to know what he's doing. His hard work shines as his sweat glows in the beaming sun. He looks up and I quickly look away from him, hoping he didn't realise I was staring. He walks over to the cashier who already looks so done with me at this point. "Don't worry hyung, I'll handle this" He smiles. Before I know the handsome man is standing in front of me, waiting for my order. "What would you like?" He asks. I stay silent for a little trying to speak, and trying to comprehend how beautiful he is. "It's okay man, take your time" he reassures. MAN. DID HE JUST CALL ME MAN. MY LIFE IS OVER. "Uhhhh I'll have o-one iced americano a-and um, one hot chocolate please" I stutter. "Coming right up, I'll bring it to your table so you can sit down and relax" He winks at me. Was that just me or did he just tell me to shut up and relax in the nicest way possible? I can't even tell if he was rude or not now. Within a few minutes he walks over to us and brings us our order, with complimentary muffins on the house. He strides away pridefully and goes back to pumping out orders. "What did you say to him to get us free food?" Yoongi questions. "Nothing much really. Just a lot of 'ummms' and stuttering" I giggle. "You're suddenly so happy. I'm getting concerned for you. You're never like this when we go out" Yoongi interrogates. "I guess I just like the atmosphere of this place" I lie. He looks me up and down suspiciously, I just roll my eyes and look back at the barista. His muscles are about to rip out of that shirt any second now. I look back to Yoongi who looks behind him and at my newest interest. "Ahhhhh, I see what's happening. You've fallen in love" He mocks. "Shut up!" I growl as I hit his arm. "OUCH!" He yells. The barista turns to look at Yoongi with a worried look, he looks so compassionate. He walks over and says "is everything okay?". "Yeah I suppose I'm okay, I've got a bit of an abusive friend" Yoongi replies filled with distaste from me. The barista chuckles a bit not sure if that was actually a joke or not, he awkwardly scratches the back of his head. "Actually, I was wondering if I could catch your name?" Yoongi asks abruptly. Out of embarrassment I turn away and act like I'm looking at something out the window, in reality I am just looking at their reflection. "Me? My name in Jeon Jungkook" Jungkook answers hesitantly. "What a handsome name for a handsome guy" Yoongi flirts. That's it. That was the last straw. I get up and leave without any second thought. It's obvious Yoongi doesn't care about my feelings anyways. So why should I stick around to watch him take the one person I was actually interested in?