Jeonghan picks up the note as he turns around to look but pouts in dismissal when he finds no one else other than Seungcheol and a few customers present in the library. However, a shy smile makes its way onto his face as he opens the note yet again...
"That will be 250 won," the receptionist said, her voice carrying a gentle tone amidst the ambient hum of the café.
Jeonghan offered a nod in acknowledgment, his movements deliberate as he extracted the necessary amount from his wallet and handed it over to the receptionist lady. "Thank you," he murmured softly, a faint smile gracing his lips as he received his latte, the warm ceramic cup radiating comfort in his hands. With his drink secured, he embarked on the familiar journey towards Joshua and Seokmin, whose animated conversation beckoned him from across the room.
As he approached their table, the tantalizing aroma of freshly baked pastries mingled with the rich scent of coffee, enveloping him in a comforting embrace. Joshua and Seokmin sat nestled in a cozy corner, their laughter echoing amidst the cafe rustic ambiance as they indulged in a shared strawberry pastry, their camaraderie evident in every playful gesture.
"You guys are disgustingly gross," Jeonghan teased affectionately, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he settled into the chair opposite them, the worn wooden surface cool beneath his fingertips.
"And why is that?" Joshua inquired, a playful smirk dancing on his lips as he reached up to delicately wipe a smear of frosting from Seokmin's lip, his touch tender yet teasing.
"This is precisely why," Jeonghan replied with exaggerated disgust, his expression contorting comically as he gestured towards the remnants of pastry on Seokmin's face, eliciting a chorus of laughter from his companions.
"At least I don't go around stalking my crush across the globe," Joshua quipped, his tone light yet teasing as he casually brushed his bangs aside, his gaze locking with Jeonghan's in playful banter.
"I'm not here to stalk, I'm here to study," Jeonghan defended himself with a hint of embarrassment, his cheeks flushing faintly at the implication.
"Oh, of course," Joshua retorted with mock incredulity, his laughter ringing out melodiously. "Choosing a café miles away from your house just because your math whiz crush frequents it for studying. Classic, Jeonghan," he teased, his eyes sparkling mischievously as he reached for his latte, only to be met with a playful swat from Jeonghan.
"I chose this café for its serene ambiance, ideal for focused studying," Jeonghan asserted firmly, his voice unwavering as he maintained his stance.
"And is that also the reason why you conveniently selected the table just one away from him?" Joshua teased, his playful smirk widening as he observed Jeonghan's reaction.
Jeonghan simply rolled his eyes in response, a playful glint dancing in their depths as he retrieved his study materials, determined to maintain his facade of nonchalance. "Think whatever you want," he quipped, his tone laced with humor as he immersed himself in his studies, the comforting chatter of his friends providing a soothing backdrop to his endeavors.
Jeonghan raised his head to steal a glance at Seungcheol, who sat at a table nearby. Seungcheol was engrossed in his laptop, tapping away with determination, his headphones framing his features, accentuating his classic Choi Seungcheol look.
Jeonghan couldn't help but admire how cute Seungcheol looked in his oversized hoodie and glasses, longing to go over, kiss his cheek, and express his admiration. Yet, Jeonghan's cowardice held him back; the mere thought of standing in front of Seungcheol rendered him a blushing mess.
"Would you tone down your staring?" Joshua's voice snapped Jeonghan out of his trance, the sound of his fingers snapping in front of Jeonghan bringing him back to reality.
"I said, quit staring at him and get your work done so that we can leave," Joshua reiterated, his tone firm as he urged Jeonghan to focus. Jeonghan nodded, reluctantly tearing his gaze away from Seungcheol as he opened his laptop, determined to tackle his presentation notes.
An hour passed, during which Jeonghan diligently completed his work. Standing up to refill his cup, he noticed Joshua engrossed in his own tasks, while Seokmin was peacefully napping. Sighing softly, Jeonghan made his way back to the counter, handing his empty cup to the lady behind it.
"I'll get a refill, please," he requested politely. As the lady busied herself with his order, Jeonghan's attention inadvertently drifted back to Seungcheol, who was now engaged in a phone conversation, his expression morphing into a pout as he spoke. Jeonghan's heart skipped a beat as Seungcheol's gaze scanned the café, prompting him to hastily avert his eyes.
"Here you go, sir," the lady interrupted, handing Jeonghan his refilled cup. Thanking her, he quickly retreated to his seat.
As Jeonghan and Joshua wrapped up their work, exhaustion evident in Joshua's drooping eyelids, Jeonghan playfully nudged him to leave. The trio exited the café, laughter echoing in their wake as they teased each other.
"Let's go," Jeonghan suggested, flicking Joshua's forehead teasingly. Joshua winced in mock pain, eliciting laughter from Seokmin and Jeonghan as they continued to banter.
"Fuck you both!" Joshua exclaimed, playfully retaliating as he grabbed Jeonghan's cup to dispose of it. However, his actions halted abruptly as he noticed something scribbled on the cup.
"Hannie," Joshua called out, holding up the cup for Jeonghan to inspect. "I think the receptionist slipped you her number," he remarked, tossing the cup towards Jeonghan, who caught it and examined it closely.
His heart raced as he read the message scrawled on the cup in the familiar ink, handwriting, and signature phrase at the end.
"Looking at you makes me imagine a future where we'll be sitting in our cozy apartment on a quiet evening, wrapped up in each other's arms. I just know you give the best cuddles." -CS
Jeonghan dashed past Joshua, a sense of urgency propelling him towards the counter. His heart raced with anticipation as he scanned the café, searching for the familiar face of the lady who had served him earlier.
"What do you need, sir?" a different woman behind the counter inquired, her voice breaking through Jeonghan's focused gaze.
"The woman... the one who was serving just an hour ago," Jeonghan replied, his voice tinged with urgency as he continued to survey the room.
"Ah, Mili! She left, her shift is over, sir," the woman informed him, her words falling like a disappointing blow to Jeonghan's hopes. With a heavy sigh, he turned away from the counter, disappointment evident in his expression as he made his way back to his friends.
As he approached Joshua and Seokmin, their faces were etched with curiosity and concern, their eyes questioning his sudden departure.
"What's wrong?" Seokmin asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.
"This is from that anonymous sender," Jeonghan explained, lifting the cup to show Seokmin and Joshua the message scrawled on it.
"Wait, you mean this person is the same one who left you a note back at the library?" Joshua's curiosity peaked as he reached out to examine the cup more closely.
"Yes," Jeonghan confirmed, his gaze flickering briefly towards Seungcheol, who appeared ready to leave as well. Sensing the need to depart, Jeonghan urged Joshua and Seokmin to follow him, guiding them towards Seokmin's car.
"Hannie, it looks like you've got yourself an admirer now..."
------
-Vaish
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