Almost every morning before work, Jin drops by a local café to pick himself up a coffee and sometimes their homemade pastries. For as long as he has worked at BigHit, he has been a regular costumer. Aside from being on the way to work, it was such a cute, cozy shop that Jin couldn't turn away from it. And he'll be damned if the food isn't great.

As soon as he stepped out of his car, he could already smell the coffee. The sign on top read Choko's Café with a cartoon jindo dog beside it. One of the features of this shop that Jin especially loved was the fact that it had its own mascot.

Walking in, he was immediately greeted by the smell of brewing coffee and a white, jindo dog. This was Choko, the lovable mascot dog that really reels in the customers. No matter what, people can't help but fall in love with her.

Jin: Choko! Chokochokochoko!

With a wagging tail, Choko nudged at his legs and accepted his gracious pets and scratches.

Jin: How's my beautiful girl? Yes, yes, you're beautiful! Oh, I wish I could steal you. How about it? Wanna come home with me?

???: Still lonely, are we, Seokjin?

Jin looked up to see an old woman smiling at him from over the counter. He smiled and waved shyly at her.

Jin: Halmoni! It's good to see you, hehe.

Halmoni-"grandma". Everyone called her that. Customers, employees, anyone. She had that disposition of politeness and wisdom that grandmothers have. Choko is her dog, and this was their shop. All were welcome and they made sure to let that be known.

Halmoni: I keep telling you to land yourself a girl, Jin-ie.

As he walked up to the counter, Choko followed closely behind him. She's grown very used to Jin thanks to his constant loyalty to the café.

Jin: I'm looking for the perfect one.

Halmoni: Aye, you young people nowadays and looking for 'The One'. So picky.

Jin: Hey, if I manage to find someone, that just means they were good enough to get through my pickiness.

Halmoni: And your narcissism.

Jin: I am not narcissistic. I'm just confident in my charms.

Halmoni: That's what a narcissist would say.

Playfully, he stuck his tongue out at her and she did the same. This shop wouldn't have the same charm if Halmoni weren't here. Jin always feels lucky to have found a café like this, so unique and homey.

Halmoni: The usual today, Seokjin?

Jin: Yes, ma'am. And another coffee please.

Halmoni: For a special someone at the office, huh?

Jin: No, I've told you before, it's for my friend Jimin.

Halmoni: Friend? Or something else?

Jin: I thought you wanted me to find a girl.

Halmoni: At this point, you look like you could stand to take anyone.

Jin: Can I take Choko?

He proceeded to crouch and hug onto Choko, and the fluffy jindo licked his smiling face.

Halmoni: I mean a person, you weirdo.

Jin: Man's best friend can suffice as company.

Halmoni: Not the kind of company I'm talking about.

Jin: Halmoni! There are children here...!

Halmoni: Oh, hush. And stop rubbing up on Choko before you get your clothes covered in fur. You know how many times I've had to explain to my employees why I have a lint roller on hand?

As she left to prepare his order, Jin stayed crouched next to Choko to pet her lovingly.

Suddenly, there was a loud crash, followed by someone crying out in surprise. Startled, Jin looked up and held onto a concerned Choko. Across the room, an employee was on his knees on the floor, trying to pick up the pieces of a broken mug, while a customer yelled at him.

Customer: Stupid bastard! Do you have any idea how much these shoes cost? Now you got coffee all over them!

Employee: My apologies, it was an accident-.

Customer: Tch, whatever! Clumsy piece of shit. You didn't even trip on anything! How'd you drop the stupid cup? You did it on purpose, huh?

Employee: N-No, sir, I-.

Customer: Just because you have a worthless, pink collar job, doesn't mean you can mess with me, got that?

Employee: Please, calm down sir. I'll bring you another order-.

Customer: Oh, shut up. I'm done here! Have fun cleaning this shit up, klutz.

Then, the angered man kicked the broken pieces across the floor, making a bigger mess, before storming out of the shop. It was quiet all of a sudden, which made the employee even more uncomfortable than he already was. With his head down and aching from frustration, he picked up the pieces of the mug as carefully as he could without cutting himself.

As he was cleaning, a shadow came over him and he nervously looked up, expecting the angry customer. Instead, he saw an awe-striking face and a rosy-lipped smile.

Jin: Need some help?

The employee, caught in Jin's appearance, didn't answer right away.

Employee: Um...n-no, sir, I've got it...

Even though the employee refused, Jin helped him anyway.

Jin: I'll get the pieces. You can handle the coffee.

Employee: Y...Yes, sir...

The employee took out a rag from his back pocket and carefully soaked up the still hot coffee from the floor. He winced and pulled his hand away from the burn, and Jin reached for his hands instinctively.

Jin: Are you okay?

Employee: I-I'm fine. Just a little hot...

The employee wasn't sure if he was blushing because of the rush of heat through his hands or because this attractive stranger was holding them.

Jin: Be careful. Take your time.

Without another word, the employee nodded and continued picking up his mess. Meanwhile, Jin took notice of his name tag as he cleaned.

Jin: Kim Namjoon.

The employee shot his head up and blinked his confused eyes.

Namjoon: Huh? How did you...?

Jin pointed to the name tag.

Namjoon: O-Oh, right! Yeah, that's me.

Jin: I'm Kim Seokjin. It's nice to meet you.

Namjoon: A pleasure to meet you too. Sir.

Jin: You're new?

Namjoon: Yes, I am. I started working yesterday.

Jin: You picked a good place. Halmoni takes care of all her employees.

Namjoon merely nodded and focused on cleaning. Jin lingered on Namjoon's expression, recognizing the upset haze in the employee's eyes. It brought back a memory from a long time ago.

Jin had gotten his first ever job during college, working as a server at a nightclub. It didn't pay very well, barely even minimum wage, but it was a way to get some money for him to save. Those years as a server were harsh. Along with college, he had to balance the demanding nightclub job as well. He spent days in lecture halls, and nights in the hot, loud club. He nearly failed due to lack of sleep from being up during the night. His parents were even concerned by how late he came home, which couldn't be considered late anymore if it was around 4am. They tried their best to lighten the load for him and get him back in shape, but it was a hard, depressing process.

One night, his long-streak of exhaustion finally caught up to him. As he was carrying a tray of drinks to a table, he ended up stumbling. It was just a slight mess up, but in a flash, everything went horribly wrong. Just as he stumbled, a couple was passing by and he bumped into them. Jin's heart nearly stopped as soon as he saw the drinks spill onto the girl's strapless dress. Then, the glasses shattered on the floor around them. Other patrons of the nightclub quickly flinched away from the scene, leaving Jin behind with a distressed woman and her angry boyfriend.

Woman: My dress! What the hell?!

Angry boyfriend: Way to go, fuckin' dumbass. Are you going to pay for this dress? Huh?!

Jin: I'm incredibly sorry, I just tripped. Um, h-here.

His intention was to take out the rag from his belt and give it to the woman, but as he stepped toward her, he slipped on the glass and liquid. Reflexively, he grabbed onto her dress to catch himself, and ended up tugging it a little farther down than it needed to be (and it was way too...far). The woman's shriek was so high, Jin thought he would've gone deaf. Other patrons gasped and some of them laughed at the spectacle. Jin spotted a camera flash somewhere in the blur of colored lights and darkness.

As soon as he stood up, he looked away from the woman.

Jin: I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to-.

Angry boyfriend: You sick fuck!

Before he could process what was going on, a hard, unrelenting fist rammed into his face. The force of the hit was so strong, Jin ended up twisting and falling over onto his stomach. He writhed and tried to pick himself up, but the pain was so strong it made him tremble. He didn't realize the spit in his mouth wasn't spit at all, but blood. He tried his best not to gag on the metallic, bitter taste.

Angry boyfriend: Serves you right, you son of a bitch. C'mon babe, let's get out of here.

As they left, the woman kicked Jin in the side and spit at him.

Woman: Fucking pervert.

After that, it was just him. People stopped recording as there was no more spectacle. No one bothered to help him. The club goers continued dancing but just avoided him. Jin hoped someone would help him, anyone. He felt too ashamed to even stand up. The tears stung his eyes so badly, it gave him a headache. He didn't want to cry, didn't want to feel weak.

Eventually, a bouncer came and picked him up. He was given an ice pack but that was about it.

He was fired from his first job that night.

When he got home, all he did was cry and cry and cry, refusing to see his parents, who helplessly waited outside his bedroom door.

It took him a long time to pick himself back up. His nights were free now, but at what cost? He had made a fool of himself, and it was surely on the Internet for people to laugh at forever.

Depressed and feeling worthless, Jin felt as if his college education would be for nothing if he wasn't cut out to work. He put all his effort into everything, only to be humiliated and beaten like he wasn't a human being who made mistakes, as anyone else was.

Then, a ray of hope had shined on him.

It was over a lunch that Hoseok had planned out of nowhere. Jin wasn't sure what for but he could never turn down his best friend.

Hoseok: Hey, I have a proposal for you.

Jin: What is it...?

Hoseok: How would you like another job?

Jin felt his heart drop.

Jin: Hoseok, you know what happened last time-.

Hoseok: This one is different. You know the daycare I work at? Well, we need a new helper, or rather, I convinced the ladies there that we needed one. And I found the perfect candidate.

Jin: Hoseok, I...

Hoseok: It's part-time, and less demanding. The kids there practically take care of themselves. Besides, this pays better than a stupid nightclub. C'mon, hyung. Just come by and charm everyone. They'll be head over heels for you in no time!

Flattery always worked on Jin, Hoseok knew.

Jin: Alright. I'll give it a shot.

And he made some of the best memories there at that daycare, with all of the little kids, with the kind women who ran the place, with his best buddy Hobi. At times, it was as if the two friends were the actual kids instead, while everyone took care of them. It had taken time, but Jin learned how to believe and trust in himself again. And then the day came when he decided to break out of his shell and go for another job. Little did he expect to make it into the company that intimidated him the most.

Jin sympathized with that feeling of worthlessness, of not being enough. Although, unlike him, Namjoon shouldn't have to feel that way. Namjoon should have that someone to pick him up off the floor, that someone that Jin never got until it was too late.

Jin: Don't take what that guy said to heart. He was a jerk. More than a jerk, actually.

Namjoon: Y-Yeah...

Jin: He doesn't realize that it's people like you who even give him a job. It's people like you who even made white-collars-this is where they started. This world is a chain; we're all linked together, whether we like it or not. We depend on each other in so many ways we can't even imagine. That's our truth.

That bit of insight struck Namjoon and made him finally meet Jin's eyes. But he found that it was a mistake, because now it was going to be hard to look away. He saw sincerity and genuine politeness in those eyes. He didn't feel like a burden on this guy's morning. He could see now that Jin honestly wanted to help him. The downcast churning of self-loathing and humiliation had disappeared completely to make way for something else.

Suddenly, Choko came up and started licking Namjoon's face, snapping him out of his trance.

Namjoon: Ah, Choko! C'mon...

Jin laughed which made Namjoon freeze for a moment so he could hang onto the sound. Why is it that everything he does is so appealing? Just who is this guy?

Halmoni: Jin-ie, your order is ready.

Jin: Coming!

Then he looked to Namjoon.

Jin: I'll be back.

Quickly, he got up with all the pieces of the mug in hand and threw them away. At the counter, Jin received his order and Halmoni smiled at him.

Jin: What's with that look?

Halmoni: Thank you, Jin-ie. For helping Namjoon.

Jin felt the blush on his cheeks. He wasn't expecting to be praised.

Jin: It's no problem. Besides...I know that feeling of getting pushed over. I couldn't let him hang onto that.

Halmoni: It's a damn good thing you took care of it, or else I would've gone running out to bite that jerk's ear off. Next time he comes here, I'll make sure Choko bites him where the sun don't shine. Isn't that right, Choko-yah?!

Choko wagged her tail and smiled (as much as dogs can smile).

Halmoni: Enjoy your coffee, Seokjin.

Jin: Um, if it's not too much to ask, could I get another coffee?

Halmoni: Another? Well, I can't say no to that.

After waiting a couple more minutes, he got his third order. While he paid, he nodded towards Namjoon.

Jin: Make sure this money becomes his tip, yeah?

Halmoni: The third coffee?

Jin: Everything I've ordered today. If you don't mind, that is, hehe.

Halmoni's knowing smile came back and she nodded solemnly.

Jin returned to Namjoon, who was finishing up cleaning the floor. Once Jin came into his sight, he stood up quick, bumping into the table next to him as he did. Frantically, he grabbed onto it to stop it from shaking, then managed a small smile as he leaned on it.

Jin: Well, I'm off, but I want you to have this.

He handed Namjoon the coffee, which he took reluctantly, as if he really shouldn't take it from such a generous man.

Namjoon: For me...? Oh, yes, it's for me, not someone else, you're talking to me so you're giving it...to me-thank you. I mean, thank you.

The café employee stood up straight for the first time and Jin was a little taken aback by his height. Namjoon was taller than he thought. But it suited him.

Jin: Relax. Have a great day today, Namjoon-ah.

Namjoon: Na...joon-ah...

With one last goodbye to Choko, Seokjin left the café to head to work.

Namjoon stood there, holding his cup of coffee. Halmoni stared at him from the counter with a playful smirk on her face.

Halmoni: You watch out with that one, Joon-ie. He's not as nice as he looks.

The café employee glanced at Choko, who gazed longingly at Jin outside, then he looked down at his coffee.

Namjoon: I find that very hard to believe.