Coffee And Violets (SUGA) CH8 - Soft Rain

Coffee and Violets (SUGA) CH8 - Soft Rain

(WARNING: Some angst stay positive y'all :])

(Your POV)

You stumbled out of bed, alarm blaring. A fuzzy light filtered through the blinds and into your messy apartment. After the last few days, normally you would've stayed home again. But the cafe was already closed yesterday while you were out with Yeongsun, and you can't keep it closed for much longer. 

You figured it'd be good, get your mind off things. So you had breakfast, got dressed, and walked to the cafe. 

The morning air was cold, morning dew fresh and your footsteps echoing through the empty streets. You sighed as you opened the door to the cafe. The flower shop next door wasn't open yet, and most people weren't out. The day had barely even started, but when you have to make everyone else's coffee you have to be up before them.

Because when you're busy saving everyone else, who is left to save you?

You drank your coffee black and bitter this morning. It seems silly, being so heartbroken from something that hardly even started. Maybe what you missed was just the excitement of something new and different. But old is okay. The usual is comfortable. The very reason you've stopped reaching out and messaging friends and meeting new people. Someone has to forget to respond first. Someone has to care less. Someone has to move on. And it's never you.

The glass panes reflect the empty cafe, but your imagination finds something else in them. The image of Yoongi and Minsoo together. Laughing together, being together. Why is it that you've never been on a date? Why has no one asked you? Maybe everyone else is just busy. Maybe there was an odd number of soulmates and you were left. Maybe plans don't always go according to plan and you just have to be happy for everyone else who is.

Ring! Ring!

You look up at the bell that just rang as someone walks into the cafe.

(Yoongi POV)

Hoseok barges into my room at 5:30.

"C'mon... It's too early..."

"No, Yoongi! You don't get to do this. You don't get to give up all hope and hide away from everyone. I'm not letting you go there again"

I sigh, "She loves someone else, Hoba. You saw them together. She's just a nice person who was kind to me once  and I'm the fool to try and build something on such a small act"

"Then fall in love with someone else! At least get out of bed. Feeling sorry for yourself isn't going to make you feel any better, huh?"

As Hoseok leaves, I shrug the covers off and drag myself out of bed. He's right, and the shop needs us. I can't drop everything just because of a girl. Though I'd do it for her.

We arrive at the shop a while later. I start to set things up for the day.

"I'm gonna go grab us some coffee, 'kay?" Hoseok said.

I nodded in response, watching as he walks out the door and into the cafe. Her cafe. 

Memories flash back of her and him,.. what was his name, Yeongsun? She seemed so shy with him, like he made her nervous. Was it because she liked him so much? Why can't she like me that much? Maybe it's because I do stuff like this. Dwell over those I hardly knew. She might as well be an angel, there's no way a girl like her would fall for someone like me. She deserves better.

"Good news!" Hoseok yells as he runs back into the cafe.

(Your POV)

You look up at the bell that just rang as someone walks into the cafe.

"Hi Y/N!" Hoseok calls as he walks over to the counter.

You start preparing his usual, "Hey"

"So... how'd the date go yesterday?" He asks.

You groan, "Ugh.. terrible. It- Here's the thing, it wasn't even supposed to be a date!"

"What?" He asks, leaning forward. You guys had your fair share of gossip, so this was nothing new. 

"Yeah! We used to be neighbors, so he just came to drop something off from my mom. He suggested we go out and have lunch together, so I agreed. Then he was like, flirting the whole time?"

"No..."

"Yes. And it was only supposed to be lunch, but he was dragging me around to all these other places and would keep telling people we're dating"

"Gee, I'm sorry Y/N! That's awful. What did you end up doing?"

"I told him he was too much, he insulted me a bit, I walked away and cried at my apartment" You chuckled bitterly, "but it's fine. Gotta keep the shop runnin', am I right?"

He nods, "Yeah, that's what I had to tell Yoongi this morning"

You focus in at the sound of his name, "Yoongi? What about him?"

"Oh, he..." Hoseok fumbles.

"He was here a few days back with Minsoo... did they fight and break up or something?"

"No, they weren't actually dating either," He assures, "He's never been good friends with Minsoo, it's just that she's so persistant, y'know?"

"Ah..." You mumble, deep in thought.

"I think you might want to see Yoongi, I feel like there was some confusion?" He questions.

"y-yeah! Do you know if he's free later?"

"Oh, he's free right now"

(Yoongi POV)

"Good news!" Hoseok yells as he runs into the cafe.

"What?"

"She can tell you herself!" He says as Y/N shyly walks in behind him, two coffees in her hands.

She hands me one, "Can uh, can we um.."

"Let's go in the back" I suggest.

She follows behind. We sit next to each other, avoiding eye contact.

"So," She starts, "You aren't dating Minsoo?"

"NO! No, god no. She is.."

"Yeah, that's probably for the best" She laughs. I smile at her.

"But uh, you were with-"

"No, I'm not with Yeongsun. That was a mistake"

"Oh" I look down, trying to hide my grin, "w-what happened? If you don't mind me asking,"

She sighs, "He's just a neighbor, it wasn't even supposed to be a date. He just suggested it as lunch, since I thought we were friends" 

She told the rest of the story as we drank our drinks.

"I'm sorry, Y/N. That sounds really upsetting"

"Yeah, I just-" She pauses to look at the rain that started pouring out the window, "I don't know why relationships have to be so hard. I feel like..."

"like you distance yourself from people, and the second you meet someone new you become attached?" I finish before I can even think about the truth I was spilling.

She looks at me, a faint smile growing on her face, "yeah"

"I know how that feels"

We stay quiet for a few seconds. Or minutes. Or however long. We drank our coffee, looking out the window at the stormy day outside.

"listen, Yoongi, I-" She stops to look down at her watch, "Shoot! I gotta go! The cafe opens in just a few minutes!" She quickly grabs her coat and begins rushing out of the room.

"Wait-" I call out. She turns around, "Uh, I..." Is now really the time to tell her how I feel? Just because she doesn't love him doesn't mean she likes me. I don't want to get the signals wrong again, "Let me walk you back"

"Yoongi, I'm just going next door"

I smile at my name in her mouth, "Well, yeah. But it's raining"

NEW CHAPTER OF 'JUST PRETEND' COMING MARCH 27

Just Pretend (BEOMGYU) CH5 - Favorite Color

"So, do you want to start on chapter five and I'll do chapter six?"

Me and Beomgyu sit alone in a corner of the library. It's fairly quiet where we're sitting, a snug corner filled with books.

"Yeah, then we'll start on the slideshow?"

"Sounds good!" He says.

We both open our textbooks and begin reading. It's silent, but a soft silence. The kind that's easy to fall into, forgetting how long it's been since someone spoke.

It's hard to think that someone who I'd only watched from afar is now my boyfriend. Even harder to remember it's only pretend.

However, I'm still proud of myself. All this time I've spent, closed-off, not connecting with anyone around me. Look at me now. I have a friend. And I think it might last this time. Even if I never tell him how I feel, having him here is enough.

I think back to what he said at prom: "I don't know if they'd like me if they really knew me." I wonder if no one's ever tried to get to know him. He has friends, but maybe he's never felt like those friends got to know the real him. Maybe he never let them. Maybe he's scared. Maybe I am too.

"Hey, Beomgyu," I start.

"Yeah?"

"What's your favorite color?"

He looks up from the textbook.

"Why do you ask that?" He questions.

"Just curious"

"Hmm" he pauses in thought, "pink"

I gasp, "pink? Really?"

"What's wrong with liking pink?" He grins.

"Nothing, it just surprised me. You only ever wear black"

I turn back to my book. It's true, he's always in dark colors. I figured that's what he liked, but apparently not. Such a bright color for someone so reserved. Like he's always trying to mask something.

"What's yours?"

"My favorite color?" He nods. "Yellow!"

He lights up, "wow, I figured your favorite color would be blue or something. Yellow isn't a common favorite, is it?"

"Not common, no," I reply, "but I like it. It doesn't try to make itself palatable for others. I respect that"

"I never thought of it that way," he said.

All of a sudden, Beomgyu's group of friends is walking up to us. I recognize Yeonjun, but the rest? I'm not sure.

"How's it going, you two?" Yeonjun asks.

I stay quiet. Beomgyu answers, "it's going well. What about you?"

"We haven't started yet," Soobin says.

They sit by us and we try to get back to our project. Their group is chattering on and on. Beomgyu lifts his head occasionally, but he mainly continues reading his chapter. Something Yeonjun says catches my attention:

"So she said one of her friends actually has a crush on Beomgyu"

Huening Kai jumps, "but he's dating Y/N?!"

"Well, they're not really dating, right?" Yeonjun turns to me.

My thoughts are racing, I guess there's nothing stopping Beomgyu from dating someone. Is it stupid to feel like we have something even though we only went to prom together?

"No, we aren't" I mutter.

"What do you think then, Beomgyu? Wanna give her a chance?"

I look to Beomgyu, but his smile has faded.

"Wether me and Y/N are actually dating or not, the rest of the school thinks we are. So, no. I'm not interested"

"I'm sure the school is not that invested," Taehyun states, "you can go on a date with someone else if you want"

"I'm not interested" Beomgyu repeats.

"Why not? Please, just give her a chance! What am I supposed to tell Minji, her friend will be so upset" Yeonjun insists.

"I've got a lot going on right now, I don't have time for something like that"

Soobin spoke, "like what?"

Beomgyu shuts the book closed, "I have a ton of schoolwork. No time for a girlfriend"

"That didn't stop you from going to prom with Y/N"

"That's different"

"How is it different?" Yeonjun commands, "honestly, I'm starting to think that you and Y/N are actually dating with how you're overreacting"

"I'm not overreacting," Beomgyu groans, "I'm just not interested. Why can't I say that? I'm allowed to not want to date your friend"

"Fine" Yeonjun says.

It goes quiet. Everyone is now doing their work, or at least staring at their laptops pretending to. Beomgyu taps me on the shoulder.

"Wanna go work somewhere else?" He whispers. I nod.

We stand and leave the library without a word to his friends. Silently, I follow him past the classrooms and out the doors. We find an area with few students. Sitting down on a bench underneath a large oak tree, I speak.

"I'm sorry. The whole fake dating thing is turning into a problem, isn't it? I can break it off, if you want. I don't want you to be fighting with your friends because of me"

"No, they're always like that" he says, bringing his knees to his chest.

"Really? It seemed like it was getting kind of..." I hesitate, "aggressive"

"They just-, don't listen to me. And will try to persuade me into doing stuff for them, or questioning stuff like why I don't want a girlfriend"

"Haven't you told them about your dad?"

"No" he states, "they wouldn't listen. If they did, it's not like they'd get it. Not like you would"

It makes me happy that he trusts me, though it shouldn't. He's talking about his problems with his friends. I add, "I'm okay if you want to date that girl. If you're worrying about my feelings, don't"

"I don't want to date her," he clarifies, "I'm not interested in dating right now. Everything in my life is already a mess, I don't need more... more things to feel like I'm messing up"

"Well, we've been pretend dating for a few days now, and you haven't messed anything up yet!" I joke.

He laughs, "you're funny"

"Oh, I know, Beomgyu."

Coffee and Violets (SUGA) CH4 - I’m Not Going

 "Ugh, I'm just so sick of hearing the same music here all the time. I try to play lofi, but it gets repetitive. I try to play mainstream music, but it's too distracting. I need something to fit the cafe's cozy vibe, you know?" I complain to Hoseok.

 He sips on his coffee, "Have you tried just having silence? And not playing music?"

 "I have, but it makes the front of house so uncomfortable. Sometimes a group will stop talking and it's just silent. I don't want it to be awkward!"

 "Hmm," He pauses, thinking through my problem, "Yoongi's actually really good with music. Have you thought about talking through it with him?"

 "No way!" You spit out before you had the time to think. "He'd probably judge me or something... I hardly know him! I'll be fine, I just wanted to rant for a bit."

 Hoseok doesn't seem to be listening, but instead staring at his phone. Scrolling through things before eventually bringing the phone to his ear and talking. Oh gosh, what is he doing now?

 "Hey, Yoongi?"

 "..."

 "Yeah I'm just calling to ask you a favor"

 "...." 

 "Well I'm talking to Y/N right now! It's easier to just call"

 "..."

 "Yeah, she needs new music for her cafe and was wondering if you could help" 

 "No I wasn't! Stop it! I'm not meeting up with him!" You angrily whisper as he continues to ignore you.

 "Great! Then I'll send you the address. How does this Friday sound?" He puts a hand to the phone and whispers to you, "You're free Friday, right?"

 "No, I am not! I'm not going!"

 "Yep she'll be there!" 

 "..."

 "Sounds good." He hangs up the phone and turns to you, smiling.

 "What the hell was that?" you burst out yelling at him.

 "He said he'll be there! He can help you with your problem. Isn't that great?"

 "No. It most certainly is NOT great. I did not agree to this!" you sneered.

 "Why are you so against this? You guys are friends. Unless..." He says.

 "Unless? Unless what?" You say, calming down a little.

 "Do you like Yoongi?" He questions, a smirk forming on his face.

 You pause, breathless. I don't want to lie to him, but I also don't trust he'll keep it a secret. Yes, I like Yoongi, who wouldn't? That doesn't mean I want to go on a 'date' with him and risk completely embarrassing myself. 

 "You do!" He yells out, "You totally do! You paused!" 

 "Fine. I like him. Now what? This whole interaction is just going to be an embarrassing reminder that I'm nowhere near his type and that he will never like me."

 Hoseok just laughs across from you, "I wouldn't be so sure about that."

 "What do you mean?" you ask.

 "Have you seen the way he looks at you? Maybe you aren't around him enough to know, but he doesn't act like that around just anyone."

 "Act like what?" you ask, beginning to feel at least a bit hopeful. Sure, it's not true, but you still enjoy fantasizing a bit.

 "like- smiling and stuff. It took forever to get him to run the shop with me, and he still refuses to talk to the customers. He mainly just puts together the bouquets and writes the poetry on the labels."

 So he's the one that writes those... you think to yourself. "That doesn't mean he likes me, that's just how he acts around friends." You argue. Honestly though, you're just fishing. You want to hear more about how he likes you, even if it isn't true.

 "Ugh. I'm done trying to convince you, Y/N. If you don't believe me, fine, but you are going to that date this Friday."

 "Where even is it?"

 " _____ Restaurant." He informs you. 

[AUTHOR NOTE: Sorry I don't know what to call the restaurant ._. just name it whatever you want]

 "WHAT? THAT PLACE IS SO FANCY, AND EXPENSIVE?? I CAN'T AFFORD THAT." You yell.

 "Don't worry, Yoongi will pay." He says.

 "I don't want that! What if he can't afford it either? I'm sure you don't make that much money running a flower shop."

 "Are you calling us poor?"

 "No no, and it's fine if you are it's just... I don't want to put him in an uncomfortable position."

 "Don't worry about that Y/N. Just be there this Friday, and have a good time! You never know what could happen..." He smiles suspiciously.

Seeds of Hope (JHOPE) CH6 - A Traced Reflection

As I wake up, I reach for my phone to text Hoseok. Except I don't find it on my nightstand where I left it last night.

Opening my eyes as I sit up in bed, I find myself in a completely different room. This isn't my bedroom...

I find a phone on a desk. Walking to the far side of the room, I pick it up and open the recent texts:

April 8, 4:35 pm Namjoon: Hey this is Namjoon from the cafe! Now you have my number too!

Me: Ah! Thank you :) were you able to finish the song you were writing?

Namjoon: Well, there's still quite a bit of work to be done on it, but I showed it to some higher-ups and they loved it!

Me: That's great! I'm happy for you :>

Namjoon: yeah... hey, are you open to meeting again? Maybe at the same cafe?

Me: Without spilling my latte on you? That'd be lovely.

Namjoon: Great! Does this Saturday sound good?

Me: Yep! See you then!

-

Namjoon? Cafe? Yesterday I was having dinner with Hoseok and my mom... what happened? Where am I now?

Frantically I run out into the hall, a studio apartment awaiting me. It was nice, but it wasn't mine. I walk towards the calendar.

April 4 - meeting with board directors April 7 - Final Project Due!!! April 9 - Dinner w/ mom April 12 - Date with Namjoon!!!

Hearts were drawn all around April 12. Was today Friday? Was today the day of the date? Or another day?

I run back into the room to grab the phone. Unlocking it, I notice the date. April 12, Saturday. I run my hands through my hair in panic, trying to form a game plan as a new message pops up:

Today, 8:53 am Namjoon: We're still on for later, right?

Shoot. That's today. Cleary I was very excited to meet this man, and he seems kind, but how do I tell him I have no idea who he is? Much less who I am!

I scramble into the bathroom. In the mirror I find the same face I've always had. At least some things stayed the same. Bringing my hand to my face, I notice faint markings on it. Looking closer, I discover that it's the same number Hoseok had previously written there. As it was in permanent ink, it was going to take a while to wash off.

I start cleaning up the lines with a new pen to ensure I have it in case I wake up in another new universe. After that, I go back to the phone.

To Hoseok's phone, I send a quick message:

Me: Hello! Is this Hoseok?

Going back to Namjoon's chat I face a harder situation:

Today, 8:53 am Namjoon: We're still on for later, right?

Me: The date later?

Within seconds, he responds:

Namjoon: Yeah, it's Saturday? Did you forget ㅠㅠ

Me: Well.., I did forget, but would you believe me if I said I forgot everything else too?

Namjoon: What do you mean? You forgot you're identity haha

Me: Kinda...

Namjoon: Don't tell me you're serious?

Me: I woke up this morning and didn't know anything about this world! Who I am, where I was, who you are!

Namjoon: ..this world? Namjoon: what was the last thing you remember?

Me: being at my house with my parents last night and my friend...

Namjoon: okay, do you have anything to prove it? Maybe any of their phone numbers so you can ask? Maybe you just got a small concussion and they can tell you what happened..

Me: I have one of their phone numbers, I already reached out to him. But it was real! My memories, my life, I'm sure this girl is nice but she is not me!

Namjoon: okay... relax. We'll figure this out together. Can you meet up a little earlier? I can give you directions

Me: yes!

-

Looking around the bustling cafe, I tried to find the face of the man I'd never seen.

"Stacy! Over here!" A voice called.

I looked over to find him. He was tall, very handsome. He seemed way too good for me. Somewhere I felt like I'd seen him before, but maybe it's just a head injury. Clearly I'm not thinking clearly.

He walks up to me, "Ah, I guess you wouldn't know. I'm Namjoon, nice to meet you"

I shake his hand, "did she look like me? How did you know?"

"I've been thinking of your face since we last spoke" he smiled.

I just stared up at him.

"Er-,.. I guess that's a weird thing to say, considering...."

"It's okay, Namjoon. I'm sorry, you do seem really nice. I think I must've really liked you"

He spoke, "well, maybe you still can"

He noticed you bite your bottom lip, looking down.

"I know, it's just," I gulped, "I don't want to lose everyone I've ever known"

-

The two of us sat down at a table after ordering our drinks. We discussed simple things. He was easy to converse with.

"So, you said you had a friend that you'd messaged?" He asked.

I flipped my hand to show him the writing on my palm, "yeah, he had written his number down a week or so ago. Luckily I could copy it while it was still visible"

"What was his name?"

"Hoseok"

"Oh... his name wasn't Jung Hoseok, was it?"

"Yeah, it was! Yeah, he was a trainee for a K-POP group? Also with two other guys, Jimin and Taehyung"

He stares at me, his mouth wide open.

"What?"

"Was their group's name BTS?"

I think back to when I saw them practicing, back when I first met them, "hmm, I'm not sure. I don't think I ever got the name of his group"

He pulls out his phone and starts typing, "I'm telling Hoseok to come over right now, this is crazy"

"What? You have Hoseok's number too?"

"Yeah? I'm in his band? Of course I have his number."

Namjoon quickly texts back the friend. And yet, Hoseok still hasn't responded to me. He sets down his phone.

"So, Stacy, how do you feel about going on a little trip?"

Seeds of Hope (JHOPE) CH5 - Your Numbers

(Stacy POV) Dinner was awkward, to say the least. My moms seated me next to Hoseok at the small table. Every now and then when one of us would reach for something, our arms would brush against each other. Leading to my mom and eomma giggling at us.

They asked him questions, mostly about where he's from and why he started dancing. I wasn't listening to most of it. I was distracted with fretting about my midterm tomorrow.

Eventually we finished dinner, and as the final plates are picked up, I lead him to the door.

"I hope you do well on your test tomorrow!" He leans against the doorframe, "It was fun tonight; having other people to talk to and eat with. Felt kinda like home"

I smile, "Yeah. Thank you for helping me with my dancing, by the way! I never would've been able to do this without you. You're a life saver"

"Maybe next ti-" He's interrupted by my Eomma, yelling to us from the kitchen.

"You should get his phone number, Stacy! In case you need help again"

I start to blush, hiding my face in my hands.

He laughs, "here. Give me your hand"

I pull my shaky hands away from my face. Immediately they're engulfed by his warm hands, gently writing out his phone number on my palm.

"Call me if you need help again. Or if you just wanna chat" He pulls his hands away. Without another word, he is gone. Back to his apartment.

In reality, he's only next door. The thumping of my heart pulls me towards him, but my brain forces me back a million miles away.

"He was cute, Stacy. Do you know if he's single?"

"Eomma!" I shout, "Stop being so blunt with everything! Gosh, this is so embarrassing.."

✿

Things were going well. I finished my midterm for dance and surprisingly got an 87%. I began talking to others in my dance class. I made friends with two of them, Taehyung and Jimin, who apparently were in the same group as Hoseok.

They told me funny memories about the band and I told them about America. We got along really nicely. It was pleasant to have someone to sit with at lunch.

It had been around a week since I'd spoken to him. Getting home, my mind wandered back to our conversations. Eyes lingering a little too long on Hoseok's door, I miss the part where it opens.

"Oh, hey Stacy" He greets.

I don't miss the sorrowful glint in his eyes. He seems sad, or nervous, or maybe just tired. I pretend to not see it, "I got an 87% on my dance test a few days back! My teacher even complimented me, saying I did well. Thank you again for helping me!"

For the first time, I see him smile.

"That's great! I knew you'd do well. I know you don't love dancing, but you do have good rhythm"

"Thank you, but really it's all thanks to you" I said.

"Um, so I asked some of my friends in my group and they are actually in one of your classes! Do you know Jimin and Taehyung?" He asks.

"Yeah! We're good friends now, surprisingly" I laugh.

"Oh" He responded, "That's great."

Again I see that darker look in his eyes. I finally remember.

"I'm sorry I didn't text you, Hoseok" I mumble.

"Hm? Oh.... It's fine. I didn't notice"

He didn't notice? I fumble with the keys on my lanyard. He is pretty friendly, he most likely has a ton of friends. He probably isn't waiting on my calls. Still, he seems unwell. I try one last time:

"I did save it on my phone though! I just forgot to actually send the text." I fake a laugh, "You're always welcome to dinner, though. My moms definitely love you."

I continued, "I know, I know it sucks to be alone all the time. This is actually the first time in a while that I've had friends"

He glances up, dark eyes meeting mine. For a second, it feels like we've known each other for years and this is just a moment like any other. It feels like for the first time, I see a layer of him past the happy smile. I see him.

"Yeah, sorry..." He brings his hand to rest on the back of his neck, "I just, it's hard living on my own all the time. I kinda feel like I don't know anyone. Like maybe.... No one really knows me"

"That makes two of us" I said.

"Really?"

"It's not like I had many friends back home, and moving to South Korea?" I snicker, "Sure, I know some Korean, but I haven't made any friends at that school. Everyone there is so.. So artsy and cool and I just-, I'm just kinda basic I guess"

"You aren't basic" He smiled. I smiled back.

"Let's be each other's friends?" He suggested.

"Only if you'll have dinner with us tonight"