Ding-
"Welcome... "
When I saw a man walking into the cafe, dressed in all black, starting with a black beanie and his body so thin that he looked like he might collapse at any moment, I instinctively thought of someone.
Although it wasn't a private life, it was a part-time job I started with the thought that I might be able to meet one of the members at a cafe close to my dorm.
But for half a year, I didn't even see the manager's nose, let alone the members, so I was feeling discouraged and thought I should just earn money and go to concerts.
I think my wish came true today.
He came alone, and no one was following him. He was even wearing a mask, so only his eyes were visible. However, he looked around anxiously, rolling his eyes, and then walked towards the counter.
"Uh...just a moment"
The sight of him standing in front of the menu and thinking about what to drink, even though he had already decided what to drink, reminded me of a black cat.
My heart was pounding so hard I wanted to scream and pretend to be a fan, but the person I barely managed to catch was strongly appealing to me that I couldn't just waste this opportunity like this.
I waited for my order, quietly glancing sideways, thinking that it was fortunate that the cafe uniform had a hat.
"Uh... two iced Americanos, um..."
After ordering the Ah-Ah, he trailed off as if something was missing, then he raised his head slightly and asked me, “What dessert would be good?”
He raised his head but his eyes were slightly looking down, and he looked like a wary cat. I almost yelled at him, but he pinched my thigh to regain his composure and calmly recommended the most popular menu item.
And although it didn't go well, I remembered that he likes tangerines, so I also mentioned tangerine tarts at the end.
"Oh, do you have tangerines too?"
"It looks delicious," he muttered to himself, eventually ordering a tangerine tart to take out. He then grabbed the buzzer and sat down quietly in a nearby seat.
"Do you have any more tangerines?" I was dizzy from his unique way of speaking. And how adorable was that upright, quiet sitting posture? I can't believe someone could be this cute. I want to spend the rest of my life dressing him in pretty clothes, feeding him only delicious food, and making him roll around. With all sorts of thoughts running through my head, I began to work.
I poured coffee with more concentration than when I got my barista license, secretly added a few more tangerines to the prepared tart, and rang the buzzer.
"I... I... Enjoy your meal and come again!"
" ..Ah..yes. ThanksI forgive you "
Ding-
..Why did I do that 30 seconds ago? Seriously
As soon as he left, I collapsed and clutched my head. The thought that this was a chance that might never come again, and that I wanted to leave something to remember, but life is a series of waiting, and that if I burdened him unnecessarily, it wouldn't come again, tangled together, I blurted out those words without realizing it.
If you look at it positively, he might have seemed like a passionate part-timer working hard for the cafe, or... he might have seemed like a part-timer who recognized himself and was acting like a trickster.
I was overcome with shame, but I consoled myself by telling myself that I hadn't actually welcomed the real thing, and that I should go home and write it down in my diary. Then I greeted other customers and waited for my part-time job to end.
*
"Oh, Yoongi-hyung is here?"
He was sitting on the sofa in his studio, looking at his phone. He heard the door open, and turned his head to greet the incoming caller. It was Hoseok, who had been living in his studio for the past few days, who had been feeling like he needed to get some exercise, so he had forced himself to drink the coffee his older brother had bought for him.
"Uh, uh," Yoongi replied roughly, placing the coffee and tart he'd bought on the table before flopping down on the sofa with weary steps. "Is it really this hard just because I came back from that?" Hoseok said with a tone of inability to stop him, then smiled and picked up his coffee, took a sip, and asked.
"Oh, this is it~ But what is this? A cake?"
"Oh, that's a tangerine tart. Do they usually sell things like this at cafes?"
"Wow, what's up with this guy? You don't only drink coffee at places like cafes, right?"
Cafes these days are no joke. Watching Hoseok humming a tune as he opened the package, Yoongi thought, “Well, that could be true, I don’t buy much food...” He grumbled to himself as if it was unfair and picked up his fork.
I like most fruits, but I especially love tangerines. So, I waited expectantly for Hoseok to finish setting up the food, then took a bite of the tangerine that was carelessly placed on top. Hoseok roughly cut it with the knife that came with the food, then picked up a piece and popped it into his mouth.
"Hey Hoseok, we're intellectuals. Why do we have this fork?"
Hoseok hit his knee and laughed heartily as he watched Yoongi, who was trying to eat the already broken piece with a fork while pretending to be elegant and neat, shatter the already broken piece into even more pieces. Then, he scolded his brother while chewing on the tart in his mouth, saying that this kind of thing is meant to be eaten with your hands.
"No, then why are you giving me a fork? I'll give you chopsticks." Yoongi, feeling particularly wronged today, whined for no reason, wiped his hands with a wet tissue next to him, and then picked up a piece and bit into it. Mumbling. For a moment, he concentrated on eating quietly, but as he picked up the last remaining tangerine, Yoongi spoke first.
"Hey, isn't this delicious?"
"Ah~ It was delicious. Do you like it, Yoongi? I'll buy it again."
Next time, I'll have to order delivery. Yoongi, perhaps because it was his favorite fruit, smiled with satisfaction and got up. He moved to sit in front of the computer, leaning back, and vaguely recalled the impression the part-timer had on him.
I thought it was cute how he seemed to recognize me but didn't show any sign of recognition, and then before he left, he said in a strong voice, "Come back again!" and we talked about working on the song together.