EP:05 - Koffee
2620 Words
I come out of the void.
I’m lying on the ground.
“Shit.” I say. “s**t, s**t, shit.” I get up off the floor and look in the mirror again. I’m dressed but I didn’t get a chance to put on makeup or do my hair. I check my watch.
11:40 AM
“f**k me.” I say and I run to the bathroom after tripping over my feet. I quickly fix my curls and spray them in place. I add a couple colored pins and my hair looks okay. I start on my makeup and decide just to do a natural look. I wash my face and apply toner and moisturizer. Then I put on a dewy foundation. Peach eyeshadow, simple black eyeliner, highlighter, blush and tinted chapstick complete the look. I still have my simple stud earrings in from the other day so they’re gonna have to do. I check my watch again.
11:50 AM
“I’m absolutely f****d~” I sing. I text Namjoon.
Yesterday
Namjoon
Okay! Sounds good. See you tomorrow
Today
Me
Hey! I’m sorry but I might be a little late. Save me a seat ( ◠‿◠ )
Namjoon is typing
…
Namjoon
No problem! I’ll see you soon
I sigh in relief. I’d be about 5-15 minutes late depending on traffic. The coffee place is downtown. I run down the steps, locking both doors behind me. I see Cisco and Maryn are nowhere to be found.
“Hmmmm” I think. But that doesn’t matter right now. I have things to do. I go outside and grab my own car, the orange Subaru. I hop in and back out of the parking lot.
Namjoon POV
I check my phone.
11:50 AM
I’m already in the coffee shop waiting for her. I’m waiting to order. You don’t want to appear rude. Especially when you invited someone to go with you.
Ahnie.
I like the sound of her.
DING
My phone goes off. I check it.
“Ahnie.” I breathe.
Yesterday
Me
Okay! Sounds good. See you tomorrow
Today
Ahnie
Hey! I’m sorry but I might be a little late. Save me a seat ( ◠‿◠ )
I scramble with my phone for a second.
Me
How do I respond again?
What do I say?
Why is she going to be late?
Is she okay?
I try typing several things but end up typing a smaller message instead.
Me
No problem! I’ll see you soon
I sigh in relief.
Crisis averted.
“Joonie!” I hear a flamboyant voice call. I see him walk over to me. He’s tall and his cocoa brown apron is covered in flour. He talks to people as he passes by and finally reaches his destination.
“What are you doing here?” He asks. “You didn’t text or call saying you were going to be here today.”
“I’m meeting a friend today, Jinnie.” I respond. I see his face fall for a second. “It’s a girl, don’t worry.”
He just laughs. “I always thought you were bi.”
“Hey!” I laugh.
“Well, I’ll tell Jaime to let me take you guys, so don’t worry. I’ll make sure everything tastes and looks good.”
“Aww thanks Jinnie.” I smile. He leans into me and I’m afraid he’s actually going to do it this time. Instead, he adjusts my glasses.
“Just making sure everything looks good.” He mumbles.
I smile.
He walks away waving to everyone again. He owns this entire café. He does a good job. Everyone loves him.
DING DING DING
I look up. Everyone else looks up too.
Ahnie enters the café and walks in a few steps to avoid being trampled by the guests.
I didn’t realize how tiny she actually is when I first met her.
She stands there in a skirt and oversized tee with high tops.
God, how did she know?
She looks around for me and when she sees me she smiles. I wave a little. She walks over to my table.
“Hey!” She says.
“Hey! How are you?” I ask. She nods her head.
“I’m fine. How about you?” She puts her little backpack over the chair seat and practically climbs onto the tall seat. I picked a spot by the window, not realizing how tall the seats are. When she gets situated I answer.
“I’m alright. Grading papers, answering emails, you know.”
“Yeah. I can’t imagine being a teacher. Stressful work.”
I laugh. “You wouldn’t even know.”
She smiles. I notice she’s bouncing her leg. She looks around at everything so quickly. I see a small glimmer of something else in her eye.
“You sure you’re okay?” I ask. “You seem a little tense.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” She says. She looks down and tucks a hair behind her ear. It falls back out of it’s position. “Yeah, I’m alright. Don’t worry about me.” She smiles again.
“Hello!” A voice says. We both look over and see Jin standing there.
“Hello!” Ahnie says. She waves a little. Jin looks at her and he suddenly explodes with joy.
“Well aren’t you just so pretty?” Jin says. “Stand up for me, I gotta see the whole fit.”
“Oh, umm alright.” Ahnie laughs. She jumps down from her seat and walks out a few steps. She twirls around.
“I love all of you.” Jin nods his head in approval of himself. “You look amazing.”
“Aww, thank you!” Ahnie replies. “You look great too.” She rocks back and forth a little on her feet. “Oh, my name’s Ahnie. What’s yours?”
“I’m Jin.” Jin states. He reaches a hand out to her and she takes it.
“It’s nice to meet you.” She says. She speaks while she gets back onto her seat. “I’m here with my friend Namjoon today.”
“I know! Namjoon and I are-“
“Friends.” I finish, cutting him off. “We’ve been friends since high school.”
Ahnie POV
“Friends.” Namjoon cuts Jin off. “We’ve been friends since high school.”
“b***h, if they aren’t both gay or even dating each other I’m going to scream.” A voice says in my head.
Same here, voice.
“Aww, that’s really sweet!” I say.
“Yeah it is.” Namjoon says. He looks up at Jin. “It is.”
Jin starts laughing, “Well I’ll stop bothering you now and actually do my job. What would you guys like?”
“I’ll take the usual for me.” Namjoon replies immediately.
Jin looks over at me. “And for you?”
“WAIT, THERE WAS A MENU?!” The scared voice in my head screams.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t see the menu.” I laugh nervously. “Do you guys have a caramel macchiato or a matcha frappuccino by chance?”
“Of course we sell caramel macchiato!” Jin replies. “We’ll have the ingredients for matcha frappuccinos next week, so don’t worry.”
“Great!” I say. “Can you make sure there’s a s**t ton of caramel in that? I kinda need a good mid-day pick-me-up.”
Jin laughs. “Of course.”
“And can we have one of your nut rolls to split?” Namjoon adds.
“Yup!” Jin says. He hasn’t been writing any of this down. I hope he doesn’t forget anything.
“So that’s a nut roll to split, a caramel macchiato with extras and Namjoon, your usual.”
“Sounds right.” Namjoon nods.
“Okay! I’ll have it out in about 5 or 10.” Jin says and he walks off.
When he’s out of ear range I sigh. “Has he always been like that?”
Namjoon sighs as well. “Umm...yeah. Probably since the womb.”
“Hmm.” I hum in response.
There’s a little bit of silence.
“So what do you do for a living?” Namjoon asks. “I mean you delivered snacks to us the other day…” he trails off, blushing.
“Oh, I run a convenience store.” I say. “You might have passed it before.”
“Huh.” Namjoon says. He sits his head in one of his hands. “Is that what you’ve always wanted to do?”
I glare at him but laugh. “Of course. Everyone wants their parents to force them into owning the family convenience store and then leave them for Korea.”
“Oh..my god. I-I’m sorry I asked.” Namjoon stutters a bit. “I shouldn’t have asked that. That’s my fault, I’m sorry.”
I shrug my shoulders. “Well, it is what it is. You’re fine.”
“Well,” Namjoon tries “what would you want to do if you could do something else?”
His question stops me.
What do I want to do?
“I’ve never really thought about it before.” I say quietly. “I’ve never really had the chance to think about it. My friends work for me so I’d be letting them down if I-“
“No. Don’t worry about them. What do you want to do?” Namjoon points at me.
I’m confused. “W-what?”
“Imagine you lived in an alternate universe, per say.” Namjoon explains. “What would you want to do if you had nothing to worry about? What job would you like?”
I hesitate some more.
“I’ve seriously never thought of it.” I mumble. “I just, I don’t know.”
“Hmm.” Namjoon looks at me, his eyebrows furrowing. “Well do you have any skills? 한국어에 능통하십니까?”
Are you fluent in Korean?
“예.” I say, “아빠는 한국에서 왔으니 배웠어요.”
Yes. Dad came from Korea, so I learned.
“That makes sense!” Namjoon bursts. His eyes go wide and he seems proud of himself. His smile makes dimples appear on his cheeks.
“What makes sense?” I ask. I feel a smile on my face too.
“You said your parents left you for Korea.” Namjoon says.
“Oh, yeah, I did say that.” I respond.
“You aren’t full Korean though, are you?” Namjoon asks. He leans into me a little bit from across the table. “Your eyes are green but your eyes are shaped differently. And your hair-“
“It’s died, yeah.” I chuckle. “You’re observant, huh?”
“Yeah. Sometimes people say I’m too observant.” He sits back down again. “But why did you dye your hair?”
“My dad said I disappointed him for not looking Korean.” I say sighing, bluntly. “So to try and make it somewhat better I dyed my hair. I tried contacts but I don’t like them. So I only wear them when he isn’t in a good mood or we go somewhere.”
“Damn.” Namjoon mutters. “I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s fine.” I say automatically.
“No, it’s not.” Namjoon says back.
“You don’t have to apologize,” I say. “you didn’t do anything.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” Namjoon mumbles. He sits back in his seat with his arms crossed.
“Sorry I’m such a Debby downer.” I laugh. “My life isn’t the best.”
“Well you’re not the only one.” Namjoon says under his breath.
“What?” I ask. But Jin comes back, almost louder this time. He carries a tray to his side and puts it on his hip when he reaches our table.
“Alright.” Jin says. “ I have your caramel macchiato with a s**t ton of extras.” He puts a large, chilled caramel macchiato in front of me. The cup is covered in caramel and salt and crunchies too. The colorful straw pops out of the white cream on the top.
“Thank you!” I say.
“And here’s the nut roll.” Jin adds. A delicious old-fashioned nut roll sits on a plate. It’s cut into little slices and the inside is oozing with delicious nut paste.
“And here’s your usual, Namjoon.” Jin says and he puts and medium sized coup of black Americano in front of him.
“Thank you, Jinnie.” Namjoon says.
“You’re welcome.” Jin smiles. “If you need anything, just yell.”
Jin pauses for a moment and looks at Namjoon. He waits for a little bit but Namjoon doesn’t look at him. Then he rolls his eyes and walks off.
“What was he waiting for?” I say to myself.
- Writer
