The day was winding down, the usual bustle of the café settling into a quiet hum. The last few customers had trickled out, and the evening light, soft and golden, filled the room with a warm glow. I was behind the counter, cleaning up the remnants of the day's work—washing cups, wiping down surfaces—when I saw him.

Jungkook had slipped in during the rush hour, like he always did when things got busy. He didn't say much, just slid behind the counter to help, his familiar, quiet presence easing the chaos. He made himself useful, taking drink orders and chatting with a few regulars while I scrambled to prepare pastries and wrap up other tasks.

It was a whirlwind, the kind of rush I always dreaded but somehow appreciated. It made the quiet moments afterward all the more precious.

As the door clicked shut behind the last of the customers, I let out a long breath, feeling the weight of the day lift. I turned toward Jungkook, who was sitting at his usual spot by the window. He had his sleeves rolled up, elbows resting on the table, watching the last streaks of sunlight stretch across the floor.

I grabbed the broom and began sweeping, my gaze drifting to him. Something about the way he looked—calm, comfortable—made me smile. I hadn't realized how much I'd gotten used to his presence here, how right it felt for him to be part of my everyday routine.

"Need help?" Jungkook's voice broke through my thoughts.

I paused, glancing at him. "You've already helped," I said, offering him a grin. "But if you're up for it, I could use someone to sort the flowers for tomorrow."

His lips curved into a soft smile, his eyes lighting up. "Flowers? That's more your thing than mine."

I laughed, walking over to him with the small bundle of roses. "You'd be surprised. You're good at everything else, you might as well give this a try."

He looked at the flowers, his eyes considering them for a moment before he nodded slowly. "I suppose I could give it a shot. Not that I have any clue how to make a bouquet, but... I'll try."

I set the flowers down in front of him, watching as he hesitated for a moment, then picked up a stem with careful fingers. "It's not that complicated," I said, sitting next to him. "You just have to keep them balanced, like... how we balance things."

I didn't realize how intimate the words sounded until they were out. The way he looked at me—soft, attentive—made me swallow back whatever else I had been about to say.

Jungkook picked up another flower, his movements tentative but sincere. "Balance, huh? Sounds easy enough."

There was a moment of quiet between us, and I felt the familiar flutter in my chest. The comfortable silence was one of the things I had missed the most. After everything, after all the time apart, there was something so simple about being here with him now—just the two of us, making bouquets. It felt easy.

I watched as he arranged the stems, his hands careful but unsure. It wasn't perfect, but it didn't matter. The fact that he was trying, that he was here with me—well, that was enough.

He placed another flower in the vase, this one slightly off-center. "How's that?"

I looked at it, then at him. "It's... not bad," I said, trying to hold back a laugh. "You're getting there."

He smiled, leaning back in his chair. "I don't know. I think I'm just going to leave this to you."

I chuckled, the sound light and easy. "Fair enough."

As I took over, finishing the bouquet, I felt his gaze on me—soft, appreciative. And then, without warning, his hand brushed against mine. It was fleeting, just a touch, but it made my heart skip.

"I think you might be right," he said, his voice low, almost like he was speaking to himself. "Maybe I'm just here to watch you do everything."

I glanced up at him, catching the glint of mischief in his eyes. "Is that so?"

"Maybe," he replied, his smile turning playful.

The moment felt simple, but the meaning behind it wasn't lost on me. Every time we interacted like this, it felt like something was slowly clicking back into place. The awkwardness was gone, replaced with a quiet understanding. There was no rush, no pressure. It was just us, slowly finding our way.

The rest of the evening passed with little moments like that—shared looks, gentle touches, and the kind of silence that was comfortable rather than awkward. The more we spent time together, the more it felt like we were reconnecting in a way that was entirely natural.

When the bouquet was finally done, I stood up and moved to place it on the counter, glancing back at him. "Not bad for a first-timer, huh?"

Jungkook stood too, walking over to me with a grin. "I think I'll stick to the barista stuff," he said, his voice light but with something softer underneath. He hesitated for a moment, then added, "But I wouldn't mind doing this with you again. Maybe... when you have time."

There was something so simple, so genuine in his words. It wasn't a grand declaration, but it meant everything. I smiled, my chest warm with something I hadn't quite been able to name.

"I think that can be arranged," I replied, my voice soft.

We were standing close now, too close for comfort, and the air between us had shifted. Without thinking, I took a small step back, just enough to create some space, but he didn't follow. Instead, his eyes lingered on me—gentle, steady. And then, before I could stop it, I saw it. His gaze flickered down to my lips, just for a second. And I felt my own breath catch in my chest.

The space between us closed again, this time with him leaning down, his fingers lightly brushing the back of my neck. I didn't pull away.

Jungkook's lips were warm, his kiss soft but deliberate. It was a slow, tender thing—one that spoke volumes without a single word. I closed my eyes, letting myself sink into the moment, the world outside falling away.

When he pulled back, his forehead rested gently against mine, and I could feel the smile in his voice.

"Finally," he whispered.

I chuckled softly, my hand finding its way to his chest. "Finally," I echoed.

And just as the evening slipped into night, Jungkook wrapped his arms around me in a hug that was both familiar and new, holding me like he meant it, like he'd been waiting for this moment too. 

There was no rush, no need for any more words. We just stood there, wrapped up in the quiet warmth of each other's presence, knowing that this—whatever it was—was something worth holding onto.

♡