#I’m over here making lattes and fancy iced teas and drinks and i feel taken seriously

[kirbychar]

Life is so nice if you have a job you enjoy

[girls-scenarios]

Sweetener

Idol: Handong (Dreamcatcher)

Prompt: Handong doesn’t even like coffee. But she still finds herself coming back to that tiny little coffee shop in the corner.

Writer: Admin Kiwi

A/N: This wasn’t requested but I’ve had this idea for a while (based on something I saw while writing the other day) and I wanted to write a scenario for it. I hope you all enjoy, support Deja Vu, and stan Dreamcatcher.

♡ Tip Jar♡

Handong had never understood the craze around iced americano’s. She’d tried them, plenty of times, because ever since she’d gotten to Korea all of her classmates and friends had recommended them. But the americano was too bitter, too strong, and no amount of creamer and sugar could make it easy for her to choke one down. So it hadn’t taken Handong long to decide that the iced Americano wasn’t the drink for her.

But it also hadn’t taken her long to discover that she needed the extra caffeine.

University work had quickly caught up to her, leaving her with no choice but to seek out much-needed coffee. With midterms right around the corner and what seemed like an endless mountain of essays and homework to do, she found herself at the small coffee shop right off campus, only a few blocks away from her dorm.

She knew from her roommate, Sua, that the coffee shop at the library was both always packed and always loud, so she’d decided to try this place instead. As soon as she stepped inside, she was glad she’d made this choice.

The shop was quiet, a few tables filled with students studying, but plenty of open seats and no noise but the espresso machine and soft instrumental jazz playing overhead. In short, it was the perfect place to study. Smiling to herself, she looked around as she walked up to the counter. Behind the counter were two baristas who looked like they were also college students, one girl with short brown hair making coffee and then you, who stood behind the counter with a smile on your lips.

“Hello, welcome to Dream Coffee! What can I get for you today?” You sounded cheerful as you greeted her, but she couldn’t help the dread that came over her body as she thought about the terrible fate awaiting her taste buds.

“What all do you guys have?” She asked, glancing up at the menu. There were plenty of things that she didn’t really recognize, fancy names and syrups of all types. At the bottom, she saw her foe: the iced americano.

“Well, we have a bit of everything! Of course, we have americano’s. We’ve also got lattes, hot and cold brew coffee, blended drinks, and teas! Here on the menu, you can see our specialty drinks as well.”

As nice as you were, the menu was intimidating. She didn’t know what she’d like, and even though she knew she didn’t like the iced Americano, it was still familiar. She was tempted just to get it and suffer through it. But then she looked up at your friendly smile, and bit her lip. Well, it wouldn’t hurt.... “Um, what would you recommend to someone who doesn’t like the bitter taste of an americano?” She was half expecting you to give her a weird look, like everyone else seemed to give her when she admitted that she didn’t like the drink. But you didn’t.

“Oh, we have plenty of drinks that are great if you don’t like bitter tastes! I always recommend the caramel macchiato, it’s sweet but not overwhelmingly so. I think it would be a good choice if you want to try something new as well.”

With the threat of the americano gone, Handong found herself smiling again. “Okay, then I’ll get one of those! Large and iced please.”

“You’ve got it, coming right up!”

After paying, Handong found herself a cozy little table in the corner and sat down, ready to dive in. It was you who delivered her coffee, and as you sat it down on her table, you gave her a sweet smile.

“I hope you enjoy this one! Good luck with your homework!”

Something in her heart jumped as she accepted the coffee and gave you a polite nod. “Thank you.” As you walked away, she took a sip of the coffee and watched you go, a smile slipping onto her lips as the sweetness hit her tongue. She loved it.

-

Handong still didn’t really like coffee. She could still taste the bitter espresso behind the sweetness of the caramel and milk, and it wasn’t something that she’d drink for fun. Still, she found herself in front of that small coffee shop once again, her backpack perched on her shoulder. Midterms were still going on, after all. She needed the caffeine, that’s why she’d come back.

(It had nothing to do with your smile. At least that was what she told herself.)

The shop smelled like a mix of pumpkin and freshly-brewed coffee as she stepped in, and she found herself liking the smell as she approached the counter. Once again, you were there to greet her, smiling brightly. This time, she looked down at your name tag. (Y/N). It was a nice name.

“Welcome back! Did you like the caramel macchiato?”

Her heart skipped a beat. You remembered her? “Oh, yeah! It was good. Thank you for the recommendation.”

“No problem. Are we going to be having the same thing today?”

“Actually....” She trailed off, looking at the menu. The words still didn’t mean much to her. Plus, she wanted to talk to you some more “Do you have anything else sweet? Besides the caramel macchiato? I’m wanting to branch out a bit and try new things.”

You nodded your head, reaching down to point at something on the menu. “We just released our new fall special drinks, and I personally love the apple crisp latte! I can’t even taste the espresso, it’s so sweet.”

“I’ll go with that then!”

“Good choice!” You rang in the drink, then looked back up at her. “Oh, I didn’t get your name last time. Can I get a name for your order?”

“Handong.”

“Handong, I’ll be right out with your drink!”

Somehow, having you call her by her name made her feel flustered, and as she paid and went to find a table, she hoped the blush on her cheeks wasn’t obvious. At her seat, she peered out the window, watching as people milled past. She felt cozy and warm as she listened to the soft jazz, nerves calming down after a long day of classes. Finally, it felt like she’d found her go-to spot for homework.

“Here’s this apple crisp latte for you, Handong. I hope you enjoy it!”

She turned towards you with a smile, happily taking the warm coffee from your hands. She knew she was going to be coming back again and again. “Thank you, I’m sure I will.”

-

It became habit. Every few days, whenever homework got overwhelming and she needed coffee and maybe a little chat with you to cheer her up, she’d head down the street to the little coffee shop on the corner. Somehow, it seemed like every time she went in, you were working, and you’d greet her with a familiar smile, welcoming her back as you recommended sweeter and sweeter drinks.

After a while, the two of you started to have regular conversations. The coffee shop was rarely busy in the evening when she came in, so you had time to chat with her, with her either staying at the counter until her coffee was ready or you standing by her table, chatting a little longer than necessary to drop of a coffee.

She learned that you were also a university student, going to the same university down the street. She learned that you tried every drink on the menu and didn’t like some of them because they were too strong. She learned your work schedule, even, and started timing her visits to match it. You learned about her, as well, as she told you about her classes and what she was studying, and how she didn’t really like coffee but needed it to survive school. Although the two of you weren’t super close, as the short conversations the two of you had didn’t lead to anything, it was still a push in the right direction. Handong was sure the two of you were at least friends at this point. And she was happy with that, at least for now.

-

The day it happened was the day Handong walked in to see the normally-quiet shop packed with customers. It took her by surprise, and she blinked, wondering if she’d come to the wrong shop by accident. But no, of course it was the right shop. She’d just stopped by earlier than usual, and apparently caught the rush. You and two other workers were behind the counter, rushing to make coffees and take orders as fast as possible. Through it all, you still had on a cheerful smile, and it made Handong like you even more. Being cheerful when this many people were swarming the shop had to be hard.

Eventually, it was her turn, and you looked up from the register with your normal cheerful smile only for your eyebrows to raise and for the smile to get wider, more genuine. “Oh, Handong! You’re early today!”

“I am. I guess I caught you in a rush.”

“It’s almost as bad as morning rush today,” you said, letting out a little laugh. “It’s not usually like this.”

“You’re handling it great, though.”

“Oh, thank you!” Was that a blush on your cheeks, or was she imagining things. “What are we thinking today?”

“I want to go back to the beginning. The iced caramel macchiato, please.”

“We’ve come full circle today.” With a smile, you punched in her order. “It might take a little longer than usual, but I’ll be right out with your coffee!”

“Take your time, seriously,” Handong said as she paid, shaking her head and giving you what she hoped was a sweet smile. “I can wait, no rush.” Even though she’d assured you that she was okay with waiting, she knew as she walked to find a table that you’d rush anyway. It was just the type of person that you were: you always did your job well. And she admired you for that. As she pulled out her things, she found herself staring at you, watching you work. You turned around, letting out a little sigh and making a playful face at your coworker after giving them someone’s order, and it made her smile. Then she caught herself, but she couldn’t bring herself to drag her eyes away. When had she started to like you this much?

It was after her drink had been dropped off that it happened. She was sitting near the doors today, and to her left was a tall standing shelf that both showed off the shop’s t-shirts and mugs and showed the guests where to line up. She hadn’t really taken much notice to it, just getting used to its existence there. But today, she looked up at it just in time.

You’d been rushing back to the counter after cleaning off a table, calling to the guests that you’d be right there, when a child ran right towards your legs. You jumped back and turned your body to avoid getting plowed over, holding the tray in your hands in the air. As you laughed, assuring the mother that you were okay, you stepped a few steps backwards, and Handong barely had the time to open her mouth before your back collided with the shelf.

A few of the t-shirts and a coaster fell from the shelf and the small box of packaged sugars fell from your tray as you spun around, grabbing at the shelf to steady it. Thankfully, the mugs rocked but stayed in place, sparing you from having to clean up broken ceramic. Still, there was a mess on the floor, and your face bloomed bright red as everyone turned to look at the commotion.

Handong wasn’t even thinking as she got up, helping you out of instinct. Your eyes widened when she bent down to pick up a t-shirt, and you seemed flustered for the first time since she’d met you.

“Oh, you don’t have to help me! It’s my fault anyway!”

“But I want to help you,” she said with a smile, placing the shirt back in its place before turning her attention to the sugars. For a second, you stuttered, still surprised, before cleared your throat and bending down to help her.

“Thank you,” you said quietly, cheeks still flushed red, and she nodded, quickly looking away as her stomach twisted. How were you so cute?

“Of course.”

The packets of sweetener, sugars and fake sugars, took the longest to pick up, but it wasn’t long before both of you were back on your feet, and she was placing the box of sweeteners back on your tray. The shelf was back in place, and the customers had gone back to their own business, your coworkers taking care of the counter while you cleaned up. You gripped the tray tightly and bit your lip, glancing down at the sugar and then back at her.

“Thank you for your help. Sorry for making such a mess.”

“It was hardly your fault,” she said, shrugging her shoulders and running her hand through her hair. Why was she so nervous? “I was happy to help.”

“Um.” You seemed to contemplate something, glancing back at the counter to make sure they were doing okay before taking out one of the packets and grabbing a pen from your apron. On the sweetener, you scribbled out something before handing it to her, your cheeks flushed again but a smile on your lips. A smile she hadn’t seen of yet. “Here. I’ve been meaning to give this to you for a while, but I never got around to it.”

She took the packet from your hand, and then her eyes widened. On the white packaging was a phone number. “Really?”

“Really. Text me soon, okay Handong?”

She grinned, closing her hand around the sweetener and holding the little packet close to her heart. “I will.”

-

Later, after she got home, she finally got the confidence to key the number into her contacts and open up a text chat. After a few minutes of writing and deleting messages, she finally hit send, her heart pounding in her chest.

-Hey (Y/N), this is Handong! I’ve actually been meaning to do something for a while too. Would you like to go out with me sometime?

Your response was quick.

-Hey! I’d love to go out with you, I was hoping you’d ask!

After a few seconds of squealing, she sent her response.

-Is there anywhere you’d like to go?

-Anywhere other than coffee is fine with me! I drink a little too much coffee on the daily for that lol.

-I get that! How about dinner then? I know a really good Chinese place not too far from the campus.

Your response made her heart flutter, and she smiled widely, holding the phone to her heart. She was so glad that she’d learned to like coffee.

-It’s a date!