A Cup of Sweet Espresso, please? - Chapter 2
Title: A Cup of Sweet Espresso, please?
Fandom(s) : U-KISS
Pairing(s): KeMaru
Rating: PG-13
Genre: AU, Romance (?)
Warnings: Awful!English
Author's Notes: This is a birthday present for lovelybrii12! Happy (belated) birthday! I don't know how long and how horrible it will be, but I intend to finish it because it's a birthday present! :D
Prologue :: Chapter 1a :: Chapter 1b
Kevin swept the café carefully the next day, arranging the chairs and fitting them nicely under the tables for the uncushioned chairs and leaving enough space between the seat and the tables for the cushioned chairs.
Dongho chatted animatedly with Alexander while Kiseop went to check if Eli needed any help (not that Kiseop was good with baking). Soohyun came in with a huge smile. “Breakfast! Yah! Dongho, why aren’t you cleaning up?!”
Dongho pointed at Kevin. “We decided to let him do everything because he wanted to try what I’ve been doing alone all along.”
“Who’s the “we” you’re talking about?” Soohyun frowned and called for Kevin to claim his breakfast.
“I’ll be there in a while.” Kevin nodded, humming to a nameless tune while finishing up the sweeping of the café.
“Kevin and I.” Dongho shrugged, more interested in what kind of breakfast he was having. “You’re in an unexpectedly good mood. We actually get pancakes for today’s breakfast! Wow, I’ll eat well~!”
“No, McDonald’s is having a promotion.” Soohyun rolled his eyes. “You speak like I abuse your human rights.”
Dongho pouted and nodded furiously, while Alexander already started to get his share of pancakes. “Our meals have to be in our stomach in a short span of two minutes per meal. Kevin-hyung will end up skinnier than he already is.”
Kevin appeared with a satisfied smile. “Done! I think I heard my name?”
“Are you fine with your job?” Soohyun asked vaguely.
“Oh, I’m adapting well!” Kevin chirped, face trying to be as bright as possible despite the lack of sleep.
“I think he needs some caffeine.” Kiseop appeared with a chuckle, poking Kevin’s dark eye circles. “Or some makeup to cover those.”
Kevin blushed when he realised his tired face could be seen. Alexander already started putting some foundation and powder to hide Kevin’s dark eye circles. “Yes, we do this everyday. Or else we’ll look like ghosts and scare our customers.”
Kevin nodded to show that he understood, checking his appearance in the mirror Alexander handed him.
“You’re still so pretty, the world is unfair.” Alexander sighed dreamily. “Either that or I’m getting better at makeup.”
“Your hands are for coffee, go wash them.” Soohyun gave Alexander a slight nudge and pointed Kevin to the last pack of pancakes (since Alexander already ran into the kitchen a few minutes ago to give Eli his breakfast). “Go on, start eating. Business will start soon.”
“Oh, okay! Thank you for the meal~ I’ll eat well!” Kevin thanked and tucked in, cutting a pretty big portion and giving it to Dongho, who was hungrily staring at Kevin’s after finishing his share. “Eat up, I don’t eat so much.”
Dongho’s eyes sparkled, giving Kevin a suffocating hug before devouring the pancake. “Ah, I love pancakes!”
-
Kevin happily skipped to the shop entrance to turn the “Open” and “Closed” sign around, noticing that Kibum was walking towards the café with an acknowledging smile on his face towards him. Kevin smiled back and held the door open for Kibum, before leading the customer to his seat.
“Good morning, Kevin.” Kibum greeted as he walked beside Kevin, giving a small smile as if conscious of the intent glare from a certain boss of a certain café.
“Good morning!” Kevin greeted back enthusiastically, before giggling sheepishly. “Oops, I need to go get my tray and menu!”
“Oh, there's no need.” Kibum placed a resisting grip around Kevin's wrist, causing Kevin to fall backwards on Kibum. Kibum lost his balance too and fell into a random chair, hissing as Kevin landed on his lap.
“I'm sorry! I'm sorry!” Kevin apologised as he stood up, afraid that he hurt Kibum (probably not knowing that he was too light to hurt). “Did I hurt you?”
“No, no.” Kibum forced a smile and stopped his hand from soothing the previously scalded spot. “Go get me a cup of double shot espresso, won't you?”
Kevin made a confused face, insistent on the fact that Kibum was hurt. He experimentally patted the area on Kibum's lap, where Kibum caught his hands before he could do any further actions.
“I'm fine, Kevin.” Kibum nodded with a smile. “Go on, don't keep me waiting.”
Kevin jerked in realisation as Kibum’s words sank into his head, hurriedly rushing to the counter to order and write down Kibum's order on his order pad.
“Kev.” Soohyun called.
“Yes?” Kevin asked questioningly, offering a sweet smile.
“Don't talk to him, remember?” Soohyun reminded strictly. “I saw you falling on him, be more careful, all right? If it was some other customer, you’d probably be screamed at.”
“Oh.” Kevin nodded, embarrassed though still confused. Soohyun did seem like he especially disliked Kibum. “You mean he doesn’t mind?”
Soohyun twitched. “I didn’t say that. It’s not like I know him or anything. He-he just didn’t look like he was going to scream at you.”
Kevin smiled widely, nodding furiously. “He’s really nice, that’s why!”
“Kevin.” Soohyun sighed. “Just…be a professional waiter and not keep chatting with him. Keep your conversations limited to orders.”
“I will try to.” Kevin gave a vague reply and quickly left the counter with Kibum’s order and a piece of serviette on the tray.
“A cup of double shot espresso, thank you for waiting patiently.” Kevin smiled and gently placed the serviette on the table before settling the cup of coffee over it.
“Thank you.” Kibum politely replied, before giving the waiter a cheeky grin. “You think I can shorten your name?”
“Huh?” Kevin blinked, surprised.
“Something like…Kev?” Kibum chuckled at how Kevin jumped at the name. “Not nice?”
“It’s good! Many people call me that too…” Kevin shyly replied, blushing a bright shade of red. Was Kibum initiating a step towards a closer relationship or something?
“Oh, that’s bad. Wanted something exclusively mine.” Kibum said sadly. “Kidding. All right, thanks for the coffee. I shouldn’t take up any more of your time.”
Kevin bowed and walked away, the colour on his cheeks still refusing to fade away. It must be because Kibum was so nice to him ever since yesterday, never taking any of Kevin’s clumsy mistakes to heart. Besides, he wasn’t a homosexual, so he couldn’t be having a crush on Kibum. It’s not horribly wrong to think another guy looks insanely cool, anyway.
Kevin managed to catch glimpses of Kibum as he continued working that day, realising that Kibum worked a lot on his laptop. He skipped lunch and made a visit to the café’s toilet only once. The rest of the time was dedicated to his fingers tapping swiftly on the keyboard and his eyes staring intently into the laptop screen.
At about two o’clock in the afternoon, he raised his hand.
“How may I help you?” Kevin asked with a pretty smile, slightly bending towards Kibum to hear him better.
“A second cup of double shot espresso. Thank you, Kev.” Kibum smiled back, handing Kevin his cup.
Kevin felt his heart rate increase after hearing his usual nickname from Kibum. He nodded a reply, too nervous to think of a coherent reply, before skipping back to the counter.
Kiseop looked at him, amused, but said nothing when Kevin giggled out the order.
“What’s wrong with him?” Alexander nudged Kiseop and whispered, in the midst of completing two orders Dongho took.
“I don’t know, but it’s a good thing if he’s happy, no?” Kiseop smiled and placed the steaming hot cup of coffee on Kevin’s tray. “Remember to be careful, go Kev!”
“Thank you~!” Kevin sang, before clearing his throat and fixing his smile. “Do I, uh, look professional?”
Alexander laughed at Kevin’s sudden change, nodding. “Yeah, keep it that way. Remember a slight smile would do. Too bright a smile and your cheeks muscles will sag.”
“Xander-hyung!” Kiseop rolled his eyes. “Trust you to actually say that.”
“It’s true, Kevvy looks so pretty that he doesn’t deserve to get sagging cheeks. Just giving him some tips, you know.” Alexander shrugged, grinning at Kevin. “Go on, serve the order.”
“Ah, yes.” Kevin gave a restrained smile, reminding himself that he had to look professional.
He was a waiter, after all.
-
Wanted to update yesterday, but LJ was down .__.
Fandom(s) : U-KISS
Pairing(s): KeMaru
Rating: PG-13
Genre: AU, Romance (?)
Warnings: Awful!English
Author's Notes: This is a birthday present for lovelybrii12! Happy (belated) birthday! I don't know how long and how horrible it will be, but I intend to finish it because it's a birthday present! :D
Prologue :: Chapter 1a :: Chapter 1b
Kevin swept the café carefully the next day, arranging the chairs and fitting them nicely under the tables for the uncushioned chairs and leaving enough space between the seat and the tables for the cushioned chairs.
Dongho chatted animatedly with Alexander while Kiseop went to check if Eli needed any help (not that Kiseop was good with baking). Soohyun came in with a huge smile. “Breakfast! Yah! Dongho, why aren’t you cleaning up?!”
Dongho pointed at Kevin. “We decided to let him do everything because he wanted to try what I’ve been doing alone all along.”
“Who’s the “we” you’re talking about?” Soohyun frowned and called for Kevin to claim his breakfast.
“I’ll be there in a while.” Kevin nodded, humming to a nameless tune while finishing up the sweeping of the café.
“Kevin and I.” Dongho shrugged, more interested in what kind of breakfast he was having. “You’re in an unexpectedly good mood. We actually get pancakes for today’s breakfast! Wow, I’ll eat well~!”
“No, McDonald’s is having a promotion.” Soohyun rolled his eyes. “You speak like I abuse your human rights.”
Dongho pouted and nodded furiously, while Alexander already started to get his share of pancakes. “Our meals have to be in our stomach in a short span of two minutes per meal. Kevin-hyung will end up skinnier than he already is.”
Kevin appeared with a satisfied smile. “Done! I think I heard my name?”
“Are you fine with your job?” Soohyun asked vaguely.
“Oh, I’m adapting well!” Kevin chirped, face trying to be as bright as possible despite the lack of sleep.
“I think he needs some caffeine.” Kiseop appeared with a chuckle, poking Kevin’s dark eye circles. “Or some makeup to cover those.”
Kevin blushed when he realised his tired face could be seen. Alexander already started putting some foundation and powder to hide Kevin’s dark eye circles. “Yes, we do this everyday. Or else we’ll look like ghosts and scare our customers.”
Kevin nodded to show that he understood, checking his appearance in the mirror Alexander handed him.
“You’re still so pretty, the world is unfair.” Alexander sighed dreamily. “Either that or I’m getting better at makeup.”
“Your hands are for coffee, go wash them.” Soohyun gave Alexander a slight nudge and pointed Kevin to the last pack of pancakes (since Alexander already ran into the kitchen a few minutes ago to give Eli his breakfast). “Go on, start eating. Business will start soon.”
“Oh, okay! Thank you for the meal~ I’ll eat well!” Kevin thanked and tucked in, cutting a pretty big portion and giving it to Dongho, who was hungrily staring at Kevin’s after finishing his share. “Eat up, I don’t eat so much.”
Dongho’s eyes sparkled, giving Kevin a suffocating hug before devouring the pancake. “Ah, I love pancakes!”
-
Kevin happily skipped to the shop entrance to turn the “Open” and “Closed” sign around, noticing that Kibum was walking towards the café with an acknowledging smile on his face towards him. Kevin smiled back and held the door open for Kibum, before leading the customer to his seat.
“Good morning, Kevin.” Kibum greeted as he walked beside Kevin, giving a small smile as if conscious of the intent glare from a certain boss of a certain café.
“Good morning!” Kevin greeted back enthusiastically, before giggling sheepishly. “Oops, I need to go get my tray and menu!”
“Oh, there's no need.” Kibum placed a resisting grip around Kevin's wrist, causing Kevin to fall backwards on Kibum. Kibum lost his balance too and fell into a random chair, hissing as Kevin landed on his lap.
“I'm sorry! I'm sorry!” Kevin apologised as he stood up, afraid that he hurt Kibum (probably not knowing that he was too light to hurt). “Did I hurt you?”
“No, no.” Kibum forced a smile and stopped his hand from soothing the previously scalded spot. “Go get me a cup of double shot espresso, won't you?”
Kevin made a confused face, insistent on the fact that Kibum was hurt. He experimentally patted the area on Kibum's lap, where Kibum caught his hands before he could do any further actions.
“I'm fine, Kevin.” Kibum nodded with a smile. “Go on, don't keep me waiting.”
Kevin jerked in realisation as Kibum’s words sank into his head, hurriedly rushing to the counter to order and write down Kibum's order on his order pad.
“Kev.” Soohyun called.
“Yes?” Kevin asked questioningly, offering a sweet smile.
“Don't talk to him, remember?” Soohyun reminded strictly. “I saw you falling on him, be more careful, all right? If it was some other customer, you’d probably be screamed at.”
“Oh.” Kevin nodded, embarrassed though still confused. Soohyun did seem like he especially disliked Kibum. “You mean he doesn’t mind?”
Soohyun twitched. “I didn’t say that. It’s not like I know him or anything. He-he just didn’t look like he was going to scream at you.”
Kevin smiled widely, nodding furiously. “He’s really nice, that’s why!”
“Kevin.” Soohyun sighed. “Just…be a professional waiter and not keep chatting with him. Keep your conversations limited to orders.”
“I will try to.” Kevin gave a vague reply and quickly left the counter with Kibum’s order and a piece of serviette on the tray.
“A cup of double shot espresso, thank you for waiting patiently.” Kevin smiled and gently placed the serviette on the table before settling the cup of coffee over it.
“Thank you.” Kibum politely replied, before giving the waiter a cheeky grin. “You think I can shorten your name?”
“Huh?” Kevin blinked, surprised.
“Something like…Kev?” Kibum chuckled at how Kevin jumped at the name. “Not nice?”
“It’s good! Many people call me that too…” Kevin shyly replied, blushing a bright shade of red. Was Kibum initiating a step towards a closer relationship or something?
“Oh, that’s bad. Wanted something exclusively mine.” Kibum said sadly. “Kidding. All right, thanks for the coffee. I shouldn’t take up any more of your time.”
Kevin bowed and walked away, the colour on his cheeks still refusing to fade away. It must be because Kibum was so nice to him ever since yesterday, never taking any of Kevin’s clumsy mistakes to heart. Besides, he wasn’t a homosexual, so he couldn’t be having a crush on Kibum. It’s not horribly wrong to think another guy looks insanely cool, anyway.
Kevin managed to catch glimpses of Kibum as he continued working that day, realising that Kibum worked a lot on his laptop. He skipped lunch and made a visit to the café’s toilet only once. The rest of the time was dedicated to his fingers tapping swiftly on the keyboard and his eyes staring intently into the laptop screen.
At about two o’clock in the afternoon, he raised his hand.
“How may I help you?” Kevin asked with a pretty smile, slightly bending towards Kibum to hear him better.
“A second cup of double shot espresso. Thank you, Kev.” Kibum smiled back, handing Kevin his cup.
Kevin felt his heart rate increase after hearing his usual nickname from Kibum. He nodded a reply, too nervous to think of a coherent reply, before skipping back to the counter.
Kiseop looked at him, amused, but said nothing when Kevin giggled out the order.
“What’s wrong with him?” Alexander nudged Kiseop and whispered, in the midst of completing two orders Dongho took.
“I don’t know, but it’s a good thing if he’s happy, no?” Kiseop smiled and placed the steaming hot cup of coffee on Kevin’s tray. “Remember to be careful, go Kev!”
“Thank you~!” Kevin sang, before clearing his throat and fixing his smile. “Do I, uh, look professional?”
Alexander laughed at Kevin’s sudden change, nodding. “Yeah, keep it that way. Remember a slight smile would do. Too bright a smile and your cheeks muscles will sag.”
“Xander-hyung!” Kiseop rolled his eyes. “Trust you to actually say that.”
“It’s true, Kevvy looks so pretty that he doesn’t deserve to get sagging cheeks. Just giving him some tips, you know.” Alexander shrugged, grinning at Kevin. “Go on, serve the order.”
“Ah, yes.” Kevin gave a restrained smile, reminding himself that he had to look professional.
He was a waiter, after all.
-
Wanted to update yesterday, but LJ was down .__.