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The man is almost as tall as Jungkook himself, he wore brown tapered pants, a light brown cashmere sweater and a matching brown overcoat. His black loafers look out of place in the sea of monochrome he had dressed himself in, but he made it work. He’s strikingly handsome with sharp features that have a soft edge to them. He has permed black hair parted down the middle that drapes over his eyes. He looks put together in every sense. Jungkook imagines he finished his degree one or two years ago, had a job lined up at the law firm down the street judging by the sleek briefcase he carried with him. He probably has a girlfriend-- they’ve been dating for two years and they just bought their first condo together in the heart of the city Jungkook decides to himself. He imagines he drinks his coffee black and wakes up at 5am every morning to go on a run in the park.
“One regular americano please”, the man finally speaks.
“Coming right up”, the barista at the front says. The man nods in gratitude, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.
☕ 🍃
The same man walks into the shop again. His monochrome brown outfit swapped out for an all black ensemble, the overcoat replaced with a black suit jacket over a high turtleneck. His hair falls the same way Jungkook had seen the last time. The man walks up to the counter-- probably an americano like last time Jungkook thinks to himself.
“One London fog please.” Jungkook's eyes widen in surprise.
“Can I get a name for the order?”
The man smiles, eyes crinkling as he responds.
“Taehyung.”
The man-Taehyung returns again three days later and orders the seasonal salted caramel latte. He takes a sip, frowning at his drink in distaste, but he finishes it anyway. Bidding farewell to the barista, Taehyung looks over in Jungkook's direction where he’s sitting by the windows and for a split second their eyes meet. Taehyung averts his gaze. Jungkook stares at his retreating figure, eyes bright with curiosity.
It becomes sort of a routine- if you can call it that. The man-Taehyung comes into the coffee shop almost everyday, briefcase in hand and a variation of monochrome colours he's decided to dress himself in. Taehyung waits in line and Jungkook tries to guess his order. He always guesses wrong. Sometimes he smiles when he takes the first sip. Sometimes he frowns.
It isn’t until a few days later that Jungkook’s curiosity gets the best of him.
“Excuse me Taehyung-ssi. Please, I don’t mean to be a creep or anything but I wanted to ask you a question. I heard the barista call your name."
Jungkook is rambling, he stops before he can embarrass himself further.
Taehyung looks up at Jungkook, eyes dancing with mirth.
He chuckles, “Of course you can. Don’t worry about it. I’ve seen you study here almost everyday if that’s any consolation. So it’s only fair if you also give me your name, no?”
Jungkook blushes and looks down at the floor before meeting Taehyung's eyes again
“I’m Jungkook.”
“Well jungkook-ssi, what is it that you wanted to ask me?”
“Why do you order a different drink everyday? It’s just that there are certain drinks you obviously enjoy and certain drinks you don’t, yet you finish them. Why don’t you order something you like? I really don’t mean to impose.” He’s rambling again.
Taehyung cocks his head to the side and looks at Jungkook with a melancholic gaze. and Jungkook thinks he understands. Taehyung looks like a man who’s seen the world but not all of it. He looks like a man who's exhausted but wants to constantly move. A man who wished for success & reached it and now feels stagnant. A man who’s been plagued by the mundanities of life.
“Huh. I didn’t even notice I didn’t like all of them. I'm surprised you did.” Taehyung smiles, his eyes crinkling in a way Jungkook's grown accustomed to.
“It adds a nice kick to my day. Almost like a fresh start. it sounds a bit dramatic but i like writing a new story everyday.”
Jungkook slowly nods, hearing the implications of his words.
“No, I understand. It makes life interesting.”
“Exactly. Who knows maybe one day I’ll have a regular order?”
“Yeah who knows?” Jungkook parrots back.
☕ 🍃
Now when Jungkook sees Taehyung in the coffee shop, they share pleasantries and idle conversation.
“Hi, how are you?” or “I wonder what you’ll order today” or “I'm actually never ordering a pumpkin spice latte. Who even likes that?”
Sometimes they’ll converse and Jungkook will find he quite likes the man’s company.
“Inception is the only movie I know where the soundtrack is amazing and the movie is just as good.”
“I beg to differ. The movie is really good but the soundtrack sounds so redundant”, Taehyung argues.
Jungkook looks scandalized. “How can you even say that? Hans Zimmer did not produce absolute bangers for you to disrespect him like that.”
“C'mon it sounds the same. Like Hans we get it, the movie is suspenseful, please stop leaning on your keyboard.”
Jungkook scoffs and Taehyung can only smile in return.
Sometimes they ponder.
“I’m just chronically exhausted, you know? I’ve been running around all my life under this guise of always being productive and now that it’s time for me to relax and enjoy myself post graduation I have to work you know? But I also don’t know what I want to do to relax, if that makes sense."
“Yeah. Like it’s all you’ve ever known. And now that you have time to learn the things you love, it’ll be a waste. When you do get close to something you want to do, if it's not perfect, you just don’t do it.” Jungkook sympathizes.
“Yes exactly", Taehyung says.
Sometimes they learn.
“Jungkook-ah. What’s your favourite colour?”
“That’s a good question. I can’t really choose between blue and green. There’s so many different variations. There’s the blue of the sky and the green of the sea. There’s the green of the forest and the deep blue of the night, almost like they were meant to coexist together.”
Jungkook looks up to see Taehyung staring at him.
“What’s your favourite colour hyung?”
“I like the the teal of your sweater Jungkook-ah.” Jungkook blushes.
Taehyung’s smile consists of something between awe and utter fondness.
Sometimes they tell stories.
“Alright I got an iced americano today”, Taehyung announces as he takes his regular seat in front of Jungkook.
Jungkook laughs, hooking his hands underneath his chin and leaning his elbows on the table.
“That sounds disgusting, but what is your story today?”
“Obviously I'm an up and coming idol with a busy schedule and I already have 3 wins only one year into my debut” he says, rolling his eyes. Taehyung makes a face looking at the drink in disgust.
“Ew how can they even drink this stuff, it’s so gross.”
“I’m pretty sure it’s to curb their appetite.”
“No, no Jungkook, it's a rite of passage. Every idol must only drink iced americanos.”
Jungkook holds his head back in laughter as Taehyung continues playing with the straw of the drink.
“Let’s see if you can finish it.”
“I can’t it’s gross.”
“You’ve ordered worse things off the menu, c’mon finish it. Live your idol dreams.”
“I can’t. Besides I quite like talking to you." Jungkook stills, locking eyes with Taehyung, his smile filled with warmth and wonder.
And sometimes they love.
Jungkook glances at Taehyung as he walks up to their table with a steaming cup of hot chocolate in hand.
“Wow, the one day I don't get my favourite drink, you’re trying it”.
Jungkook crosses his arms and playfully regards Taehyung as he sets the cup down.
“What story will you be living today?”
“Well I was thinking I'd finally ask out this boy I have a crush on. I was thinking I’d buy him his favourite drink and ask him out on a date and then we’ll spend the day together and do anything he wants.”
Taehyung slides the cup across the table so it rests directly in front of Jungkook.
Taehyung's gaze is piercing and Jungkook’s breath hitches. After a few moments he slides out of his chair and holds out his hand.
“What are you waiting for? We have a story to finish.”
Taehyung's answering smile is brighter than Jungkook has ever seen and his eyes shine with love and life.