the time at starbucks

A week has passed and Yoongi and Eunmi's paths are yet to collide again. That doesn't mean they haven't both had a sneaking thought about each other every now and then. In fact, Eunmi's sister, always invested in other peoples' relationships than her own, has demanded constant updates on their situation. She's insistent no matter how many times Eunmi tells her sister that there's nothing to update on.

Eunmi is wrong, of course. She just doesn't quite realize it yet.

Which is why it's handy - or perhaps more than that; coincidence maybe? fate, even? - that Eunmi has decided to visit Starbucks, her favorite place, on the same day that Yoongi has arranged a study date with his best friend, Bri.

He's already inside chatting chatting to Bri about everything other than their Trigonometry questions. He sips at a chai latte, Yoongi isn't much of a coffee person, and nods whilst Bri recalls the gritty details of her recent break up.

"She is the coldest bitch on the planet; I can't believe I slept with her, let alone fell in love with her." Bri says maliciously.

Yoongi frowns.

"I'm pretty sure you said the same thing two months ago, then a week later you were posting those cute couple photos on Instagram."

Thankfully, Yoongi has just put down his drink because his childhood friend responds by shoving him in the chest. Despite her height of five foot one, Bri has some serious strength in her. It takes Yoongi a considerable amount of skill to prevent himself from toppling off his chair. Still, he manages to flail around like an idiot for a couple of seconds. After all, it's not Yoongi if it's not awkward.

When he's recovered, he goes to glare at Bri but doesn't get the chance. She's now wearing this smug little smile and leaning close towards him.

"You see that girl behind you?" She says under her breath, trying to act inconspicuous. "She's been gazing all dreamily at you for, like, five minutes straight."

Yoongi glances over his shoulder. A redheaded girl is blushing and looking at her book, eyes constantly darting up towards him.

He looks back at Bri.

"How do you know she's not actually looking at you?"

"Yoongi, my love, I have told you many times about my impeccable gaydar. I can't believe you wouldn't have faith in me." She says, making Yoongi raise an eyebrow at her. "Besides, I tried making eye contact with her and she smiled like 'Hey, I'm smiling at you because I'm a nice person'."

"As opposed to...?"

"As opposed to smiling like 'Hey, I'm smiling at you because I want to do you'."

Yoongi makes a face and Bri laughs. Then, she looks at her latte and back to him.

"Here's the plan." She begins.

"What? What plan?"

"The plan for you to score with the cutie other there, nimwit. You're going to go up to the stand to get a packet of sugar for my coffee, and you'll make eye contact with her as you head back. Then drop the sugar off here and say hi to her whilst you're standing."

Yoongi nods, processing it. He can see why it would work, and the girl is pretty and chatting her up might be uncomfortable but it still beats his math homework. So he stands up and heads towards the box of sugar packets - and directly into Eunmi.

Yes, Min Yoongi doesn't just knock into Jang Eunmi gently, No, he crashes right into her, sending her coffee everywhere and splattering them both. Eunmi swears loudly, making no attempt to remain cool and collected for the other customers. She looks down at her white top, which is now stained with the world's ugliest shade of brown.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to I- Eunmi." Yoongi says, breathing her name like it's holy. It sort of feels that way in his mouth, even though she's currently staring daggers at him.

"I can't believe this." Eunmi sighs as he grabs a bunch of napkins and begins dabbing at her top. When he realizes that he's essentially caressing a stranger's boobs, he stops abruptly.

Only they're not strangers, not exactly. Somehow, that makes it worse.

Blushing to the tips of his ears and down his neck, Yoongi apologizes again.

"I'll buy you another drink. What was that one? I'll get it now. Sorry."

Eunmi pauses before answering, looking at the boy in front of her intently. How is it that she feels like they almost have a history, yet she doesn't even know his name?

"That was a large Americano, thanks." She replied, voice clipped. Her heart is pounding as though they've just had some intimate moment.

He nods and hurriedly goes to the counter, returning within minutes with a steaming paper cup. She takes it from him, still standing in the exact spot, unsure, as a Starbucks worker cleans up the mess they've made.

At last, she smiles. With a breathy laugh she says:

"Well, you've just bought be a coffee and I don't even know your name."

He smiles bashfully. It is far too adorable, especially since she's supposedly still seething at the fact that he ruined her top.

"I'm Yoongi and you're Eunmi and I believe we've met before." He says.

He smiles then and, of course, it's crooked and gorgeous and the kind of smile they write poems about.

Eunmi can hear her sister's voice in her head telling her to make most of this opportunity, and she's about to speak when another girl approaches.

Bri, as Yoongi addresses her, bounds towards him.

"I have to go." She says, not even glancing towards Eunmi.

Then they hug, and Eunmi would laugh at their height difference if it wasn't for her shock.

"Love you!"

"Love you more." Yoongi replies, chuckling.

Bri leaves then and, coffee in hand, Eunmi follows moments later.

~*~

Eunmi's sister picks up on the first ring.

"Hey, I was just talking about you to my roommate - what's up?"

"It's Yoongi." Eunmi says. She gulps down the final dregs of her coffee then chucks up the cup towards the corner of her bedroom.

"Who?"

"The boy on the plane, then the bus, and now apparently Starbucks too."

"Ah, yes." Her sister laughs on the other end of the phone. "The boy you have a crush on but you insist you don't, I know the one."

"I literally bumped into him today and my coffee went everywhere and he bought me another and told me his name and it sounds pretty lame but he was all flustered and cute."

Eunmi can hardly believe these words are coming from her mouth. Seriously, she meets some boy a couple of times and becomes a stereotypical girl who can't stop blathering on about him.

"That's good; why do you sound mad?"

"He has a girlfriend!"

A/N: I hope you all have a wonderful christmas, and if you don't celebrate it, then I hope you have a great day! 💚