PROMPTS

Coffee Lover - 9

"I'm still here, Se-ri."

Those words broke her and she sobbed by her bed. Jeong Hyeok was patient and she wondered if she deserved this kind of treatment. However, she knew this part. The chase. She would come back... then what? Either he would lose interest or she'd make things complicated and they would end up parting ways anyway.

But, it was late and she was exhausted. The night held no answers for her. So, for now, she decided to sleep.

Before they parted for the night, Se-ri asked her father about a thought that suddenly occurred to her. "What about the marriage you wanted to arrange for me?"

Her father chuckled. "That is a wish but your choice is more important. I was never going to force you to marry someone you didn't want, I hope you know that."

Se-ri hugged him again, thankful that her parents cared about their children and did not mix their business strategy with their happiness.

The following day, after a fretful night's sleep, she headed home. As soon as she dropped her bags, she saw Mi-yeon's note that she would be out for the night and that there was package for Se-ri from Jeong Hyeok.

With the rice cakes, she saw a note.

Hi Se-ri,

I hope this note won't be awkward for you. I understand you asked for some time to sort things out and I respect that. I hope you find the light with whatever you are going through.

I'll be here.

Waiting patiently,
Jeong Hyeok

Holding the letter close to her heart, Se-ri decided she needed to visit her favorite coffee shop.

When Se-ri arrived, she was immediately greeted by the scent of coffee. Breathing it in, her eyes scanned the people manning the counter. There was a young woman at the cashier, and two of Jeong Hyeok's colleagues that she met previously -- the handsome one and the other one that she didn't care for.

"Oh, you're here," Pyo Chi su commented. "I was hoping you moved to another coffee shop."

Se-ri narrowed her eyes at him. "Well, I'm here to annoy you for many, many more days." After she placed her order, she asked Gwang Beom, "Is... is Jeong Hyeok in today?"

"He'll be here later. There was an issue with one of the branches across town so he needed to do some troubleshooting there," Gwang Beom explained.

"He's there now?"

Gwang Beom nodded.

"Hey, Chi Su! Can you rush my order? I need to go across town."

*

Jeong Hyeok was getting a headache. They were understaffed because one barista called in sick and now, two of those who reported were arguing because of unresolved issues when they used to date.

Note to Self: Don't hire people who used to date each other.

He scoffed at that thought. Of course it was not something he could and would implement. The employees were good and qualified, they just picked a wrong day to fight. At work, no less.

"Hi Mr. Jeong Hyeok! We're here to order our regulars!" A high pitched voice broke through his thoughts. 

Jeong Hyeok groaned. He made an effort to be kind to these college girls because he thought that the last thing they would need in their life was jerk, but he was not in the mood for this. Still, they didn't cause his issues so the least he could do is be polite.

Once he got the orders of the three girls, who was squealed when he smiled at them and bid them good day. He briefly bowed his head while waiting for the next customer to walk in. 

"Hi, I'd like to order 3 drinks?" came a familiar voice that made Jeong Hyeok whip his head up immediately.

There she stood, the woman who had occupied his dreams for a number of nights now. Looking at him wistfully, she held up 3 fingers.

"What are you doing here?" he asked. It was the first time she visited this branch of his.

"I was going to order 3 drinks," she repeated.

"3 drinks?" Jeong Hyeok repeated, meekly. "Alright. What are you having today?"

"All tall cafe americanos please."

Jeong Hyeok noted the orders on the cups. "And to whom do I make these out for?"

Se-ri held up one finger. "For  one, please write 'I'm sorry'."

Jeong Hyeok drew a careful breath. "And the next?"

"I miss you."

His heart was pounding so hard at that moment that he couldn't help but stare at Se-ri and meet her gaze. "You do?"

She nodded. "Do you want to hear the third one?"

Jeong Hyeok nodded as well, his pen suspended in the air, no longer writing.

"Give me a chance?"

Jeong Hyeok bit his bottom lip, trying to keep the giddy feeling in his chest at bay. "Ah Ms. Yoon. You sure know how to make a man's heart flutter."

"I have a lot of making up to do," Se-ri confessed. Before they could continue though, another person walked up to the line and waited for their turn.

When Se-ri received her coffees, she saw that all the cups had notes.

I'm sorry - Forgiven.

I miss you - I miss you, too

Give me a chance - Always

They gave away the coffees but Se-ri kept the cups. And when the shop closed for the night, Jeong Hyeok and Se-ri talked about everything that had happened on the few days she was out of contact.

"And now?" Jeong Hyeok asked. "How do you feel?"

"Terrified," she admitted. "But I would like to try if you're still interested."

"Could you promise to tell me how you're feeling when your insecurities come up? I have a lot of skills but reading your mind is unfortunately not one of them," he asked.

Taking a deep breath, realising it was important but immensely difficult for her, she said, "Yes. I don't expect you to put up with my crap. You're free to call me out... just please... stay."

"I would expect the same from you," he told her. 

There at a table in a closed coffee shop, under a single light illuminating the small table they shared, Jeong Hyeok and Se-ri sealed their promise with a sweet kiss and, with her hand in his, a commitment to never let go.