"Oh great, they're here again. Are there any other restaurants open? Why do they have to come here?"

Taehyung glanced over to see what had caught his coworker's attention. He couldn't help but sigh as he took in the group seated at a table, waiting to be served. Recognizing his coworker's preference for not wanting to serve them, he glanced at him and offered, "I'll handle their table."

"Are you sure? Your shift is almost over."

"I am sure. They get the same thing over and over."

"Something with a rich and flavorful taste." The coworker playfully joked and then expressed their gratitude, saying, "Thank you, as always, you're the best!" He gently patted Taehyung's shoulder before walking away, content to avoid the group of university students that had just entered.

Taehyung let out a heavy breath as he casually cleaned his hands on his pants. He then picked up his digital notepad and approached the table, where the university students were absorbed in a lively conversation.

"Good evening, my name is Taehyung, and I will be your..."

"I can't believe he did that. I would've done the same as you." Park Jimin, a popular student at the university and close friend of Seokjin, chimed in after hearing Hoseok vent about his boyfriend and his disappointment with the gift he received.

"Like, how do you get me something that is the complete opposite of what I asked for and didn't think I would notice? Just because I wear glasses does not mean I am blind. Ugh, I swear he makes me so mad! This was supposed to be our one-year anniversary, and now he ruined it!"

Taehyung waited calmly, listening as Jimin leaned over to give Hoseok a shoulder massage and consoling words. Even though he had no idea what was happening, he didn't feel at ease, just listening to them talk. Just as he turned to go away and give them a minute, he heard a voice and had to shake off his thoughts.

"How long must I wait before you take my order?"

His gaze shifted to Kim Seokjin, also known as Jin, who had been seated to Jimin's left. His fingers rapidly tapped the keyboard as his eyes were locked on the phone screen. Taehyung said, "I am sorry, I can..."

"Yeah, how long do we have to wait for you to take our order? Do you know how long we have been seated and waiting?" Hoseok asked, clearly surprised and confused as to why a server had not immediately attended to them upon their arrival.

Jimin looked at Taehyung disapprovingly: "This is not how professionals should behave! We've been waiting for ages, and even Seokjin is getting hungry because of the long wait!"

With their shouts becoming louder, Taehyung bowed slightly and apologized to them. "I apologize for making you wait. I'm here to accept your order right now, and I'll make sure they get back to you right away."

"Sorry doesn't solve everything, but because you're cute, we'll let it slide." Hoseok cracked a smile at Taehyung while casually browsing through the menu. "Uh, I'll go for something savory, thanks."

"I'll have what Hoseok's having, and I gotta say, you're not just cute, but also really good-looking. If I didn't already have so many people interested in me, I would consider adding you to my list of future potentials. However, there isn't any room available at the moment. Wait, unless you come from a wealthy background. I doubt it; you're likely working here because you don't have much money, right?" Jimin inquired, his gaze fixed on Taehyung, patiently waiting for a reply.

Jin couldn't help but chuckle while Taehyung tightly held onto the notepad.

"That was a good one, Jimin!" Hoseok couldn't contain his laughter as he observed Jin, Jimin, and Taehyung. "I'm considering ending my current relationship. Would any of you be interested in dating me?" he jokingly asked.

"I would like a cup of coffee with extra cream and no sugar," Jin exclaimed as he eagerly pushed the menu across the table, only to see it slip off and land at Taehyung's feet. "Have the chef surprise me with something to my liking."

Taehyung stooped down and retrieved the menu that had fallen to the ground. Once he straightened up, he politely asked, "Is there anything else I can assist you with?"

"Are you looking for a sugar daddy?"

"Jimin!" Hoseok exclaimed with uncontrollable laughter.

Taehyung silently turned and walked away. He ensured that the orders were promptly placed and communicated to the chef, emphasizing the importance of their preparation. He proceeded to prepare Seokjin's coffee, carefully ensuring the right amount of cream was added. Once it was ready, he delicately sampled a spoonful, eager to make sure it met Seokjin's preferences. Confident in his decision, he carried the steaming cup of coffee to the table.

Noticing their deep engagement in conversation, he carefully set the coffee on the table in front of Jin so as not to disturb them.

"Jin, don't think we forgot; you didn't tell us how the date went."

Jin's face lit up with a smile as he responded to Jimin's question. "I hadn't forgotten, actually. I was just about to share. It was..." He suddenly stopped in his tracks as he saw Taehyung carefully setting the coffee cup on the table.

"Sorry," Taehyung softly muttered, realizing that he had unintentionally disrupted their conversation. "I hope the coffee is to your liking," he said and walked away, feeling irritated despite his efforts to conceal it.

Jin raised the coffee cup to his lips, savoring a sip and a smile gracing his face as he savored the flavor. "Okay, back to what I was saying. The date was okay; he talked a lot about himself, and it was just annoying, but he dressed and smelled really well, so I might give him another chance."

"He looks good, too," Hoseok remarked, reaching for Jin's coffee and casually taking a sip.

"Why didn't you order one if you were going to drink mine?"

"It wouldn't taste as good."

Jin rolled his eyes and said, "That's stupid; of course it would." Then, when Jimin took the cup from Hoseok and started sipping from it, he crossed his arms and leaned back in his seat, staring in disbelief.

"Here you go." Taehyung approached Jin and carefully set a freshly steaming cup of coffee on the table.

"An observant servant, I like that! You are not only cute but smart." Hoseok was amazed by Taehyung's impressive speed.

"I didn't request another one!" Jin raised his voice and fixed a stern gaze on Taehyung.

Taehyung inhaled deeply before apologizing, "I am sorry-"

"Don't be, I will drink it." Jimin attempted to grab the cup, but Jin swiftly smacked his hand away. "Order your own!"

With a grin, Taehyung turned to face Jimin and said, "I can make you one if you'd like."

"I would like that very much," Jimin said, smiling back at him.

Taehyung carefully moved away, taking care of Jimin's coffee and retrieving their prepared food.

"Why are you flirting with him? Are your standards that low?" Jin's anger flared as he fixed a piercing stare on Jimin.

"When have my standards ever been high? Have you forgotten my ex?"

Hoseok couldn't help but burst into laughter but quickly fell silent when he noticed Jin's piercing glare. "Why the fuck are you laughing at everything? Nothing's funny."

Hoseok silently retrieved his phone and started scrolling through his messages.

Jimin broke the silence between them by suggesting, "I was thinking we could plan a weekend trip."

"Oh, where should we go?" Hoseok placed his phone on the table, diverting his focus towards Jimin.

"I don't know; where do you want to go, Jinnie?"

Jin nonchalantly responded, "I'm not sure, but feel free to surprise me."

*****

As Taehyung pushed open the door, it emitted a creaking sound, revealing his compact studio apartment. He quickly switched on the lights and made his way over to the thermostat, promptly activating it. It had been an extremely chilly day, and he regretted not leaving the thermostat on when he had briefly returned to his apartment for lunch. The temperature inside felt frigid like he had stepped into an icy container. He knew the heat would take a while to start working because of the apartment's age and condition.

Nevertheless, it was the most budget-friendly option he could come across and conveniently located near his school. He didn't seem to mind it much, finding comfort in having a place to sleep that offered a quiet environment. The neighborhood, populated by many elders, provided a welcome break from the usual noise.

As he waited for the apartment to warm up, he decided to put the kettle on the stove, longing for something warm. Once finished, he reached into his backpack and retrieved the remaining food he had managed to secure from the restaurant. Carefully, he stored the leftovers in the fridge, knowing they would serve as a convenient food source for the next few days. He found joy in not having to spend money on food, consistently saving every penny to prepare for the possibility of missing a day of work and the financial strain it would bring.

Approaching the heater, he gently touched it and immediately sensed its warmth, filling him with a glimmer of optimism. He was eager to shower but decided waiting until the apartment's temperature rose would be more comfortable. Upon hearing the kettle's shrill whistle, its sound growing increasingly louder with each passing moment, he quickly made his way towards it, promptly switching it off.

"Why does it feel like such a fucking ice box in here?"

Taehyung turned around, locking eyes with Jin, who had silently entered his apartment. He deduced that Jin's arrival went unnoticed because of the sound of the kettle boiling.

"I just turned on the heat. I didn't know you were coming by." He stated, cautiously setting the kettle on the table, then walked over to his closet to fetch a cozy throw blanket. Approaching Jin, he assisted him in removing his jacket and carefully draped a warm blanket over his shoulders, securing it snugly around him. "This will help to keep you warm until the heat comes up. I will make you a cup of tea."

Jin let out a deep breath and made his way to the two-seat sofa. He settled down, tucking his legs underneath him. "Why did you offer to make Jimin coffee tonight? Do you like him?"

During the process of making the cups of tea, Taehyung was perplexed by Jin's questions. "I was being kind, and you seemed annoyed that they were drinking your coffee."

"Still doesn't answer my question, do you like him?"

"No. I don't like him."

"Whatever, you can like him if you want. I really don't care."

Taehyung placed the tea cup on a saucer before bringing it over to Jin, patiently extending it to him. "Here, have this drink. It should warm you up."

Jin accepted the cup from Taehyung, savoring each sip while Taehyung settled down next to him. The two remained quiet for some time, sipping their tea, until Taehyung finally finished and brought up a question that had been weighing on him.

"Is it true that you went on a date recently?"

"Of course, you were eavesdropping."

"I wasn't, but it's also what I heard. That's why I am asking."

Jin gave him a quick look, clarifying, "We are not together, Taehyung."

"I know."

"Do you? Because if you did, you wouldn't be asking me about that."

"Never mind, I shouldn't have brought it up. Also, did you get the paper I sent you?"

"I did it and sent it to my professor. Hopefully, I get an A; I really don't want to fail."

"It will be an A. I put a lot of effort into it."

Jin smiled, "that's good. One less thing for me to stress about."

"Are you hungry? I noticed you didn't eat a lot earlier." At the restaurant, Taehyung had seen that Jin had mostly nibbled on his food rather than consuming much of it.

Jin stretched and handed Taehyung his empty cup, saying, "I'm starving. Are you going to make me something?"

"I can; what do you want?"

Jin leaned in to give Taehyung a little peck on the lips before reversing course and exclaiming, "Surprise me."

As Taehyung gazed into Jin's eyes, his heart skipped a beat. He often felt foolish for entertaining the idea that there could be something more between them, but he didn't mind. Just being in the same room as Jin brought him happiness, even though he knew that a relationship between them was not possible.

"Do you mind if I shower first?"

"As long as you are not asking me to join you."

"Of course not, I wouldn't do that."

"Good. You can go shower then; I will wait."

Taehyung gazed at Jin, a desire to share something special evident in his eyes. However, he hesitated, ultimately deciding to rise from his seat and carry the cups to the kitchen before heading to the shower.

Upon his return to the room, he discovered Jin peacefully asleep in his bed, snugly wrapped in a blanket. He switched off the leading room light to avoid disturbing him and relocated to the kitchen. Settling down at the table tucked away in the corner, he dedicated the remainder of his evening to completing assignments and studying.

As the clock neared four in the morning, he completed his work and felt the weight of exhaustion pulling at his eyelids. He gently shut his computer and went to the sofa, where he found solace under the comforting embrace of the throw blanket Jin had left there. With a sigh of relief, he surrendered to sleep.

****

A/N: Oh...Taehyung, good luck. 

I could actually sit and write this book in one sitting, and that's what makes it a comfort book for me.