Love In A Coffee Shop

Joonmyun POV

                Frustration boiled within me as we left the restaurant.  Carlene seriously drives me insane.  She’s been driving me over the edge since I met her when I visited their family’s house a few years back.  My hands were dug deep into my pants pockets as I walked the brightly lit streets of London.  I had the others return to the room without me because I needed some time to cool off.

                Dara is simply amazing, and I feel a little bad lying to the others saying she’s my sister that had to be kept secret.  She caught on really quickly and rolled with it, and when we left she didn’t even bother to question it.  It seemed that realizing that I had a sister pissed Carlene off.  Any woman that I’m nearby pisses her off, even though Dara herself explained that she’s dating Baekhyun. It was quite the bull shit excuse when she said that Dara and I would be together, because that crazy blonde bimbo would do anything to get my reactions that I learned to control over the years.

                I sighed, realizing that I stopped in front of an English coffee shop.  I pulled out my phone and went straight to my notes where I put down some helpful things to say here that Dara taught me in the room.  Alcohol would be nice right now, but Dara was made when I and the others got drunk in Japan.

                She’s a terrifying person when she’s mad, I’m serious.  I really hate seeing disappointment in her eyes because she’s already going through enough, especially carrying her and Baekhyun’s child.  She can go from cheerful and light-hearted to stone cold in a second if anyone gets on her bad side, but I wonder how she can easily hold it in.

                How does Baekhyun not notice that her happiness seems somewhat…forced?

                I guess the two of us really are long lost twins.  We’re more alike than real twins and that’s saying something.

                I entered the coffee shop, getting curious glances casted my way.  I remained calm and collected as I made my way to the front desk, phone and wallet in hand.  Sure, I’m wearing an extremely expensive suit but there’s no need to treat me like I’m on a pedestal.  I could feel all the employees stare at me and I fidgeted, shifting my weight foot to foot.

                “May I please have a small Americano?” I asked her very carefully.  I could hear my accent and I inwardly sighed.  I watched her punch in something else and I watched her mouth move, words coming out of her mouth that I didn't understand.

                Biting my lip, I looked down at my notes and faced the employee again, “I am sorry; I do not speak English well.”

                “She asked you if you wanted anything else.” A soft voice answered for me and my heart jumped in fright.  I turned down to where the soft voice came from and froze.  If there were fireworks to express what I seen, there would an endless amount.

                She looked up at me and grinned, making my heart skip a beat. “Is there anything else you’d like?”

                “N-no.” There was a lump forming in my throat and I swallowed it. “Would you like anything?  I’d pay for it.”

                “I don’t accept rich people’s money,” her soft voice turned to stone, making me smirk.

                “Please, it’s my best way to say thank you,” I implored her.  Her bright blue eyes met mine and I saw them begin to droop.  I pouted slightly and the girl sighed, speaking to the cashier.  I grinned, looking at the screen that showed a new item added to my purchase.  I pulled out my card and slid it, quickly punching in my pin number. The cashier gave me my receipt and I turned to find the girl, but she disappeared.

                Where did she go?

                As I tried to look for her in this giant café, I saw two lidded cups enter my vision.  Focusing on them, I saw it was both of our coffees.  I took it from the employee’s hand and smiled, showing my thanks.  I walked more around the café, searching for this girl.

                She had beautiful blond hair that fell perfectly straight to her waist.  She was slim but Dara slim, where she worked out and dieted for her body.  The girl had on a knitted beanie, an oversized sweater that was loosely tucked into some dark blue skinny jeans.  I’m not exactly sure if she had anything else—

                Found her.

                At the very back of the café by the window that showed a great view of the city, sat the pretty blonde that caught my eye in a heartbeat.  Sweat began to bead on my forehead as I watched her eyes transfixed on her laptop, reading through text.  She had glasses on now and it framed her small, slim face that was totally makeup free.

                I never knew someone could look so beautiful without makeup—excluding a few.

                Making my way to her, her eyes slid from her screen to me. I met her eyes and grinned, placing down her cup by her on the table. “May I accompany you?” I asked her as politely as I can.

                “Your politeness is giving me a few weird vibes from you,” she said instead of answering my question.  I wanted to frown and ask what she means by this, but I guess I look stupid enough to her.

                “I’ll take that as a yes,” I answered grimly, sitting across from her.

                “If you’re here to be your sort of amusement, then you can just leave,” her voice was curt and I chuckled.  It’s amazing that she can speak Korean so well!  I took a sip from my coffee, my frustration from earlier tonight washing away.

                I shook my head, “No, you’re just interesting.”

                “Interesting? How?”

                “Well, for starters, you can speak Korean quite swell for a foreigner,” this cause her to crack a grin, “And you look like the type that studies really hard but right now, relying on coffee to stay awake because you can’t figure out a problem.”

                Her blue eyes went wide, “H-how did you know?”

                “Your face is an open book,” I answered honestly.  I’ve actually had help reading people’s faces with Kyungsoo and Sehun because they’re always so poker-faced.

                “You’d make a great negotiator, stranger,” she laughed and it sounded like music to my ears.  I propped an elbow on the table, resting my chin on the palm of my hand.

                I grinned, looking down at what’s placed before her; A Mac, a few notebooks, and two pens.  Beside her on the seat was a handbag that looked quite comfortable to carry around. I returned my gaze to her face, “Do you need help?  I’d be more than glad to help you.”

                “It’s quite suspicious for a stranger to offer help, especially to a girl,” she mused.

                “Why is it suspicious?” All I want to do is help and learn more about this girl.

                “I don’t know if you’re going to hurt me, but I can tell that you’re a kind person.  I take psychology, but I haven’t learned enough to see if you’re plotting anything.”

                “I promise you I’m not some stereotypical rich boy that likes finding playmates or whatnot.  As a matter of fact, I’m not the arrogant type at all.  I find enjoyment in helping others and academics.”

                “It’s a bummer to see that you aren't lying,” she chuckled once again, sipping her coffee.

                I shook my head, “Of course not. What’s there to hide?”

                “Your secret lair,” she joked.

                “What’s your name?” I asked quickly, seeing if I’ll catch her off guard.

                “Harley Knight,” she answered coolly with a grin still on her face, “and you?”

                “Joonmyun Kim,” I replied in the same tone.

                “Where are you from?”

                “Seoul, South Korea. How about you?”

                “London, England,” she smiled, revealing two rows of perfectly white straight teeth. “What brings you here to the everyday café?”

                “I needed to cool myself down and I found myself in front of here,” I answered.

                “School life?”

                “I go to Wiseong Academy and I am the third top student in the entire academy. One of my best friends being the highest rank, and his girlfriend being the second.”

                “What are they excelling in that you aren't?”

                “English,” I frowned, “I have a 97 in that class.”

                “Do you know why your best friend’s girlfriend is in second and not first?” Harley tilted her head.

                “She left school for a year for reasons I cannot say, but if she didn’t she would easily be the highest ranked student. She’s so intelligent, it’s crazy.  Dara’s like the mirrored version of me.”

                “Dara?”

                “That’s her name,” I smiled.

                “That’s cool,” Harley’s tone was full of curiosity, “I’d like to meet her someday.”

                “You actually can!” I piped up, a smile on my face, “She’s here in London, along with her boyfriend and two of our other friends.”

                “N-no, actually, it’s fine—“

                “All three of us can offer the help you could possibly need. The three top students in Seoul’s most prestigious private academy in one place.  How could you refuse this offer?” I smirked at her. “Besides, it appears this shop is closing soon and you’re about to fall asleep.”

                “A-am not—“

                “Trust me, Harley.  Please?”

                “Only because you said please,” she closed her laptop and shoved it into her bag, along with her notebooks and pens.  I grinned, standing up and pulling out my phone.  I went straight to Dara’s contact and hit the call button, bringing my phone to my ear and listening to it dial her.

                “Yes, Joonmyun?” Her cheerful voice answered my call.

                “I’m bringing over a friend to meet all of you, so tell the boys to clean up,” I told her, watching Harley stand up from her chair.

                “A friend? Who is it?”

                “You’ll know when we get there,” I raised a brow, “We’ll be there in about ten to fifteen minutes.”

                “Alright, I’ll tell them,” Dara hung up on me and I locked my phone, sticking it into my pants pocket.  Harley removed her glasses and held onto her coffee with one hand, and her bag in the other.  I should pull off something that gentlemen do.

                “Let me carry your bag,” I more of ordered her than asked her.  Harley didn't seem to mind as she gave me her bag, which was definitely heavier than it looked.  Side by side, we left the coffee shop and walked back to the hotel where I and the others are staying.  We didn't talk but it wasn't awkward or anything.  I was dying to get out of my suit, but I didn't dare complain.  Harley seems like the person who gets annoyed easily when it comes to arrogant, whiny people.

                In exactly twelve minutes, we arrived in front of the hotel.  I approached the door first and opened it, letting Harley walk past me and enter it first. 

                “This hotel is…extravagant,” she murmured.

                “It’s just a hotel, nothing else,” I assured her, “Let’s go to the elevator.”

                It was funny watching her reaction seeing that I picked the highest floor.  Her eyes were wide with wander as they stared at the view of London.   Lights illuminated the darkness and it was breathtaking, really.  Big Ben even looked beautiful.

                “Follow me,” I told her and Harley nodded, biting her bottom lip.  The elevator doors opened and it revealed the narrow hallway, only showing two doors; ours and some other persons.  I walked straight to ours, knocking on the door.  There was yelling and I sighed, hearing footsteps quickly walking to the door, it opening and revealing Dara wearing floral shorts and some vintage designed shirt.  Her eyes went straight past me and looked right at Harley, a smile forming on her face.

                “Hello! Please, come in!” Dara spoke to Harley in English, stepping aside.  I removed my shoes and walked in, placing them along the wall where we put all the rest of my shoes.  I watched Harley do the same in the corner of my eye timidly.

                She’s so cute.

                “I did my best to clean up while you were taking a break, Joonmyun,” Dara told me, rubbing the back of her head, “Luhan and Sehun were getting ready to fall asleep but now they’re wide awake.” She turned to Harley and smiled, holding out her hand, “I’m Dara, it’s nice to meet you.”

                “My name is Harley,” she introduced herself in Korean, getting an impressed look from Dara.

                “Oh, you speak Korean?”

                “Yes, I major in it,” she answered a little shamefully.

                “How cool!” Dara clapped her hands, “Come on! Meet everyone else.”

                I’ll conclude that the others overwhelmed Harley a bit, especially Sehun.  He was amazed that she could speak Korean so well and kept asking her lots of questions, but Baekhyun shut him up.

                “So how did you and Junmoney meet?” Baekhyun asked, wrapping an arm around Dara’s waist.

                “We just met around an hour ago at a coffee shop,” Harley answered.  I caught the blush forming on her face.

                “You brought a girl with you that you just met an hour ago?!” Luhan clapped his hands, “There has to be some sort of reason.”

                “He said he’ll help me with my studies,” Harley replied, a little nervous.

                “Of course,” Dara shook her head with a small smile on her face, “Well, Baekhyun and I can help you, can’t we babe?”

                “Sure,” Baekhyun nodded, “What is it you need help with anyways?”

                “Physics.”

-          -

                It’s hard to believe that love at first sight happened in a coffee shop. 

                I needed someone like Harley in my life, and I’m never letting go of her.

Pictures/.gifs of Joonmyun & Harley