Work Text:
Junhui leaned on the counter of his kitchen. The small glass window on the wall gave him the perfect view to the tables of his café. At that moment, most of them were empty. Except for one reserved table next to the exit door, where a tall, black haired man sat with the most perfect posture, Junhui had ever seen. He looked like a statue, the only movements noticeable were from his fingers moving with speed and precision on the laptop in front of him.
Junhui stared at the man, gathering enough motivation to leave the comfort of his kitchen and approach the newcomer.
For someone who owned a coffee shop that was usually pretty crowded, he was still pretty unsure on how to approach clients and mostly stayed in the kitchen taking care of the orders. The main reason he started that business was because of his passion for baking and coffee. Also for the cats. Especially the cats.
Chan or Jeonghan were always there to help him with the socializing part, they took the orders, they talked to the clients, they dealt with the adoption processes and all that involved engaging in social activities. However, none of them were there to help him yet, they were both in a potential adopter’s house now and would be gone for another two hours. Which made Junhui the only possible person available to take orders, whether he liked it or not. He sighed, put up his best smile and left his kitchen.
Junhui walked his way to the table, making sure to walk soundly enough so the other man, apparently absorbed in his own thoughts, could notice his presence. The strategy worked just fine, and before Junhui could even get to the table, the client noticed he wasn’t alone in the room anymore.
Embarrassingly enough, the first thing Junhui noticed was how handsome the dude was, he saw from a distance how wide his shoulders were, and he couldn’t help but get a little surprised when the client looked up and Jun met eyes with a young innocent looking man with a red beanie and round glasses. His face had the complete opposite aura of his buff body and Junhui had to hold back a stupid smile that tried to make its way through his mouth.
“Welcome to Moon's Cats & Coffee, how can I help you?” Junhui repeated the rehearsed words, offering a polite, not so wide smile to the man standing in front of him. The man took a few seconds to reply, he seemed to be analyzing the situation, a small frown growing between his eyebrows.
“You work here?” Wonwoo said, the sentence sounding more like a statement rather than a question.
“I own here.” Junhui corrected and watched the man’s forehead wrinkle as his eyebrows raised. He coughed and Junhui could notice the tip of his ears getting red.
“I’m..I’m so sorry. It’s just that I always come here” He started explaining himself. “Like…Daily. To the point I thought I knew everyone around here already. I’m so sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. I’m sorry.” He clarified, clearly embarrassed at this point, and Junhui once again had to fight back a smile growing on his mouth.
“It’s ok. That’s understandable actually, I barely leave the kitchen to be honest. Customer service is not actually my biggest…forte.” He replied, trying to sound as nice as possible, since the man was clearly still disconcerted with his words. Junhui couldn’t stop thinking that this was yet another proof that he certainly was not fit for this type of task.
The client smiled at him awkwardly, and Jun smiled back, not knowing exactly what to say anymore. He just stared at the man, fascinated with his distinct attractive appearance and awkward disposition.
The other also seemed to not know how to carry on, and for a few seconds he simply stood at his place. He stared at everything but also nothing at all. It was clear to Junhui that the man was thinking of something, he just wondered what.
After what felt an eternity, he finally opened his mouth to say:
“This is a charming establishment.”
Jun couldn’t hold the huff that came out of him after hearing the sentence, not quite ready to hear that. He found it cute.
“Thank you.” Jun said, completely failing to hold his smile. And then he remembered: “Can I take your order?”
“Oh!” The man replied. “Yes, please. I would like to have one large Capurrccino .” He ordered, the name of Jun’s special drink coming out of his mouth naturally, as if he had said that a million times before.
“To drink here or take out?”
“Here, please.”
“And for who it’s for?” Jun asked. In a normal situation, he wouldn’t have asked the name, since the man was literally the only client in the establishment at that point. But he couldn’t lose that chance.
“Wonwoo.” He said. And it sounded like music to Junhui’s ear. “Jeon Wonwoo.”
“Wonwoo.” He repeated, testing how it would feel to say it. Then, once again, he remembered what he was there for. “Noted. Please enjoy your time in our cafe, your order will be ready in a few minutes.” Jun said politely and only left when he heard a small, awkward ‘Thank You’ from the man.
While he walked away, he couldn’t help but notice how hot his cheeks felt.
Alone in the kitchen now, Junhui let himself sit down on the floor and as he recalled the interaction from minutes before, he smiled like an idiot and felt like an idiot for reacting so feverishly over someone he just met. He’d be laughed at if any of his friend saw him that way. He tried to concentrate on finishing the drink, but while his hand mechanically worked on the ingredients, all he had on his mind was the intriguing man sitting in his Cafe.
Ten minutes later Jun left the kitchen with a large Cappurrccino in hands, he easily placed it on his client’s table and politely smiled again. The client, Wonwoo, smiled back, and once again Jun caught himself thinking of just how pretty he was.
This time, Jun decided to not leave for the kitchen, and opted to sit at the cashier instead. He tried to occupy his time by playing on his phone or doodling something in a paper, but for most of the time he caught himself observing the man in the room.
Wonwoo sat straight the whole time, he drank his coffee awfully slowly and the time he didn’t spend sipping on his mug or typing something on his laptop, he spent observing the cats.
He simply watched them play, eat and sleep.
Junhui frowned in confusion.
That was weird.
After a while, Wonwoo finally finished drinking and walked to the cashier to pay for his drink. After paying, he stood in front of the cashier for a few seconds, not saying anything at all. Junhui thought he was going to say, ask something, but instead Wonwoo just murmured a small ‘Thank you’ and turned his back to walk away.
However, before he could leave, Junhui’s curiosity won over him, and he saw himself opening his mouth to say:
“You didn’t play with the cats.”
“Yeah, I didn’t.” Wonwoo confirmed.
“You just watched them.” Junhui stated.
“True.” Wonwoo confirmed.
“Most people come here to play with the cats, that’s the whole purpose of this place.”
“I-” Wonwoo stops again, making that same thoughtful face he’s done more than once that day. It seemed like he was calculating his words, adding and subtracting nouns and verbs until he gets into the correct, perfect sentence. “I appreciate watching them from a far distance. I don’t wanna bother them.”
“Ok.” Jun said after a long pause. “That’s not right. I can’t let a client come to our shop and leave without playing with one of our cats. Follow me.” Junhui said and moved to one of the puffs on the floor, where a fluffy white cat lay peacefully. He sat down next to the cat and waited until Wonwoo understood that he was supposed to sit down together with him and the pet. Wonwoo sat on his knees, maintaining a safe distance from Junhui and the cat but still doing what he was told to.
“This is Star.” Junhui said, carefully taking the cat on his arms. “She’s an old lady, I rescued her from a shelter, they said that due to her age, it was very unlikely that someone would adopt her again. So I took her with me. Maybe here she’d have a chance.” He explained, Wonwoo listened to the story attentively, his eyes never leaving the cat on Junhui’s arms.
“She’s really peaceful and sweet. And she loves cuddles.” Junhui explained and before Wonwoo could protest, he put Minnie on the man’s arms. Wonwoo froze on his spot and Minnie moved a little on his arms, adjusting herself, so she could get the better position and go back to sleep. Wonwoo watched the cat move on his arms, and behind the nervous expression he wore, Junhui could see a gleam in his eyes.
“See?” Jun said after a while, making Wonwoo finally take his eyes out of the cat and look at him. “You’re not being a bother, she loves you. It’s ok to try to pet and hug them once in a while, they won’t bite you.”
“Yeah.” Wonwoo easily agreed. And Jun felt his chest heat as he noticed a small beam form on Wonwoo’s lips. “I think you’re right.”
“Not all of them though, if you try to do that with Mr. Grumps there.” Junhui pointed at the tabby cat playing at the other corner of the room. “He’ll probably take your eye out. And I will not be responsible for that.” He joked, and when he looked back to the man in front of him and saw a big smile on his face, Junhui instantly regretted doing so. He was feeling really embarrassed of his heart for acting like he never saw a pretty man before, and the backflips he felt on his stomach wasn’t helping the case either.
“Anyway.” Junhui rapidly stood up from the ground, startling not only Wonwoo but Star on his arms, who woke up and walked away from the place, leaving both of them alone. “I have some errands to do in the kitchen, feel free to call me if you need anything, Sir.”
And before Wonwoo could say anything else, Jun walked -ran- out of the room.
When he left the comfort of his kitchen minutes later, he could only find two girls playing with cats in one corner of the shop. He tried not to look too disappointed, as if there was no pretty glasses man in the room anymore, and smiled wide to the newcomers.
“Welcome to Moon's Cats & Coffee, how can I help you?”
😺
“Ok, what’s happening?” Chan asked one day.
“What?” Jun replied, finally taking his eyes out of the lounge.
“What are you doing here?” The younger questioned. “I thought you just wanted to change airs in the first day, but it’s the second week in a row I see you not in the kitchen, and it’s getting weird.”
“What?” Jun said, in an offended tone. “Can’t I help with the cashier sometimes? Talk to the clients?”
“You hate talking to clients, hyung.” Chan replied, and truly, Jun couldn’t even deny that. In all truth, he would rather be in the kitchen right now, but it was 4PM and just like every day in the past weeks, at any time someone would enter from that front door and order a large capurrccino, which Junhui would make with great care. Chan didn’t need to know that, though.
“Well, maybe it’s time to change that, don’t you think?” He said, and before the youngest could say something, they heard the entry door’s bell ringing. The beam on Junhui’s mouth was evident when a tall man, wearing his usual glasses and beanie, entered the room and moved to the table on the corner of the shop.
Before Chan could stand up and move to the client’s table like he has always done, Junhui holds him down.
“I’ll get this order.” He says, taking a paper and a pen and deciding to ignore the way Chan’s face goes from confusion to complete amusement in a split of three seconds.
“Welcome to Moon's Cats & Coffee, how can I help you?” He said the rehearsed words, and the stupid grin didn’t leave his face when the other lifted his head and smiled at him.
“Hi.” Wonwoo said.
“Hi.” Jun replied.
They stopped for a while, just staring at each other. It became kind of a routine of them now. Wonwoo would come, sit down. Jun would say his rehearsed words, and they would just stay in silent looking at each other until one of them said something. It was awkward and Jun could bet it was hella weird for anyone seeing from an outside view, but he found it oddly amusing.
The interruption this time came in the form of a loud cough coming from the cashier, where Dino not so discretely watched the whole thing.
“So uh.” Junhui started. “Same as always?”
“Yeah.” Wonwoo replied. “A large carpurrcino.”
“It’ll be here soon, sir.” He said in a light tone, and Wonwoo once again smiled widely. “You didn’t bring your laptop today?” Junhui asked, find it odd. He had learned in the few small talks they’ve exchanged that Wonwoo worked as an editor for a book publisher.
“Yeah.” Wonwoo answered. “No work today, just came to see…” He stopped for a second and avoided Jun’s gaze when said “The cats.”
“Well, they’re here for you.” Jun said, oblivious. “I’m sure Star would be delighted to see you. I’m under the impression she became very fond of you ever since that day.”
Junhui said, and as if she was being called, the old calico cat appeared from under the closest table. “And there she is.”
Junhui observed with fondness the way Wonwoo lowered himself and offered a hand for Star. The cat sniffed the man and once she recognized the smell she snuggled into his hand and Wonwoo caressed her head, smiling in complete adoration.
“She loves you.” Junhui commented.
“I kinda lover her too.” Wonwoo whispered. And by the way he was now sitting on the floor, allowing Star to make her way to his lap, Jun knew he meant it.
Wonwoo cuddled with Star for a while, drank his coffee and made his way to the cashier, where Jun had ordered a very annoying Chan to run some errands and leave him, them, alone. Another habit they found themselves falling to was this one, Wonwoo would pay for the coffee, sit down by the cashier and just talk to the owner. They would talk about the books Wonwoo published, about Jun’s favorite dishes, their past, their present, their plans for the future. Some days they would just sit down and watch random videos of Star Junhui had on his phone. This slowly became Jun’s favorite part of his days, and he could just hope Wonwoo felt the same.
One day, after Wonwoo finished his usual coffee and spent his usual time with Star, he found a very nervous looking Jun waiting for him on his usual spot. Wonwoo impression wasn’t wrong, Jun was actually really nervous. He had been thinking of something to say to Wonwoo and decided that today was finally the day he’d talk to him.
“Ok I have something to say, but please don’t feel pressured in any form by my words, ok?” Jun started.
“Ok?” The editor said, looking visibly anxious now.
“This is just something that I’ve been wanting to ask you for a while now, but I was scared of how you would react, so it took me some time.”
“What is it?” Wonwoo asked, biting his lip in anticipation.
“I’ll just say it, but it’s fine if you say no, ok? No problem at all, I’ll get over it.” Jun clarified, his heart beating fast. As fast as Wonwoo’s.
“I have the feeling you won’t be hearing a No for this.” Wonwoo said, the tip of his ears starting to get red.
“Ok, here it goes.” Jun says.
“I’m listening” Wonwoo replies.
“So… have you ever considered adopting Star?” Jun asked in one single breath. And watched Wonwoo’s expression drop immediately. This couldn’t be a good sign.
He never handled the adoption processes before, so he wasn’t sure of how to even begin. But he’s witnessed first hand how well they mingled together, he’s seen how much Star liked him, he needed to give it a try.
“Oh.” He heard Wonwoo say, a confusing expression forming on his face, which made the situation a lot more disorienting.
“Again, you don’t need to say yes, I swear. I just saw the way you are with her, and it made me wonder that maybe, just maybe…” He said, trying to assure the other that he didn’t need to worry.
“No!” Wonwoo started. “I mean Yes!” He exclaimed, looking even more confused. “I’m sorry this just took a turn I wasn’t expecting.” Wonwoo said, the frown on his forehead finally relaxing a bit as he took a deep breath to say. “I didn’t even know Star was available for adoption?”
“She wasn’t, actually.” Jun explained. “I’m too fond of her but…She really loves you. And I think she deserves a real home.”
“Do you think I’m suited for this? For her?” Wonwoo asked, and Junhui could see the doubt in his eyes, he seemed so worried, so anxious. But he also saw the care, he was anxious because he cared .
“You’re perfect, Wonwoo.” Jun said, and he really meant it. Wonwoo was perfect. Perfect for… “Star. You’re perfect for Star. She loves you.”
“Can I?” Wonwoo asked, almost hopeful. “Adopt her?”
“Of course you can.” Junhui answered, and Wonwoo smiled. Jun felt a rush of relief run through him when he noticed that Wonwoo now looked more relaxed, happy.
“But I never had a cat.” Wonwoo said, looking a bit concerned yet slightly excited.
“I can help with that.” The owner offered. “We can, you know, go on shops together, buy her stuff, prepare your house to welcome her.” He said, and tried not to smile at the thought of him and Wonwoo going shopping together. This wasn’t about him.
“Would you?” Wonwoo asked, looking so hopeful and excited, Jun felt the urge to just hug him.
t
“It’d be my pleasure.” He said, truly. And Wonwoo smiled at him, held his hand and squeezed it tight.
“Thank You.” He said, sincerely. Jun tightened his grip on Wonwoo’s hand and just smiled back, his chest never feeling so full.
That day, Jun went to sleep being happily aware of two amazing facts.
- Star would finally get a home.
- He was awfully in love.
😺
The process of adopting Star and preparing Wonwoo for getting Star took a little longer than they expected.
When Wonwoo said he never had a cat he really meant he had no idea how to raise one.
They spent the first week chatting about stuffs such as, what food he could let Star eat and what he should never allow her, what toys Turns out Wonwoo had a lot of questions and every day he’d leave Moon’s Cat Cafe with a list of instructions or notes he took from his classes with Junhui. In the middle of their conversations though, they would often deviate from the topic and just start talking about their own interests, they would talk and talk until either Chan or Jeonghan would interrupt them and remind jun he got a store to run.
On a Sunday, Junhui found himself staring at his closet and hating himself for not have bought new clothes. In a few hours, he would meet Wonwoo on the shopping mall, so he could help him buy stuff for Star and her new home. He knew this wasn’t a date, he knew Wonwoo probably didn’t see him that way and was just overall a very nice dude who saw him as a friend. But a part of him couldn’t help but want to impress .
He ogled his own clothes for a few more seconds until he gave up and grabbed his phone to ask for Jeonghan’s help. After a very embarrassing call where he had to listen to several teasing kisses noises and annoying imperatives telling him to just ask Wonwoo out, Jeonghan finally helped Jun pick up a good outfit, and he left his house with a big v neck sweater and an old pair of pants that he could barely fit anymore but hugged him in the right places.
Wonwoo was waiting for him in the station, he looked like his usual casual and awfully charming self and when he saw Jun he gave him that same old smile that made Jun’s heart grow until it almost reached his throat.
By the end of the day, as he watched Wonwoo excitedly chose a new bed, toys and even a Yoda costume for Star, Jun came to the conclusion he was indeed in love with Jeon Wonwoo, and that he couldn’t hide it for much more longer.
😺
“It’s the day.” Junhui said.
“It’s the day.” Wonwoo replied.
They were both in front of Wonwoo’s apartment, Star in a cat box, minutes away from meeting her new home. Jun was nervous, Wonwoo was nervous, but they both found a sense of comfort in having each other’s back.
“She’ll fit in just fine, I'm sure.” Junhui assures.
“I hope.” Wonwoo sounded worried.
“When we get there, let’s just give her some space, and let her slowly find her way, ok?”
“Ok!” Wonwoo echoed, trying to sound excited, but Jun could see right through his nervousness. In a moment of courage, Junhui took Wonwoo’s hand on his and gave him an assuring squeeze, in an awkward attempt of calming him. It seemed to work, and Wonwoo gave him a small smiled and intertwined their hands.
“Let’s go?” The editor asked, and all Jun could do was nod his hand in agreement.
As they made their way to Wonwoo’s apartment, the other never letting Jun’s hand go, Jun felt a rush of what seemed like hope. Maybe that was the moment.
They finally got into the apartment and opened the cat box for Star to meet her new home. For thirty nerve wrecking seconds, the cat didn’t leave the box, and Jun could feel Wonwoo’s tension as they waited for the cat to move. However, soon enough the old lady peeped his head out of the box, exploring the new environment. They both sighed in relief when Star moved out of the box and started sniffing Wonwoo’s living room around. In a few minutes, she entered the kitchen and both of them decided to just let her explore for a while, give her space.
“Do you want some water?” Wonwoo offered, and Jun once again nodded in agreement. He felt his throat dry, something about being in a room completely alone with Wonwoo made him feel extra nervous. Especially when he could hear in his h ead a voice constantly whispering “confess, confess, confess” to him. He sat down on the sofa and waited for Wonwoo to come back from the kitchen.
A few seconds later, Wonwoo came back, holding a glass of water and wearing a cozy smile on his face. He sat next to Jun, his shoulders touching the other's and made Junhui feel extremely self-conscious with the proximity.
“This is going well, right?” Wonwoo asked.
“Huh?” Jun exclaimed.
“With Star. You think is going well?”
“Oh, yeah! It’s, fine, she’s fine. She is exploring the house, it’s a good start.” Junhui encouraged, and Wonwoo smiled in relief.
“I was so danm worried she would hate it here.” He confessed, and Jun beamed at how adorable he found Wonwoo.
Gosh, he liked him so much . He couldn’t bear it anymore.
“I have something to say.” He blustered, a little louder than expected.
“Ok?” Wonwoo said, and Junhui felt a weird sense of déjà vu.
“You don’t need to answer me right now. Actually, you don’t have to give me an answer at all.” He started, his heart beating on his chest, his ears suddenly feeling warm.
“Jun…” Wonwoo started, suddenly feeling way too close.
“But this is something that’s been on my mind for months now, and I really need to get it out.”
“Junhui are you…” Wonwoo said looking at him puzzled. And all Junhui wanted was to kiss his face and wash the confusion away. “You’re not gonna offer me to adopt another cat are you?”
“What?!?” Junhui huffed, in a mix of perplexity and amusement. “No, you idiot. I’m trying to say that I like you and that maybe we should go out sometimes.”
There, he said it. Finally, said it.
And if it wasn’t for the mortal shame and embarrassment he was feeling at that very moment, Junhui would’ve said he felt almost relieved.
“Oh.” Wonwoo said, he looked at the ground with a blank expression, as if he was processing what just happened. Junhui felt tension raising through his spine and started to wonder if he hadn’t just ruined a perfect and fine relationship.
“But again, you don’t need to answer any of this. I just wanted to tell you, put this out of my chest. We can continue being friends!!!” He assured, trying to ignore the growing pain in his chest as he pronounced every single word. “I’m sure I’ll get over it.”
And for a torturous moment, Wonwoo just kept silence, didn’t say a single word at all. Junhui was finally coming to the conclusion he had lost not only his crush but a friend when he heard a small guttural puff come out of Wonwoo’s mouth. Soon enough, the man was…laughing?
Wonwoo was laughing.
“You’re laughing.” Junhui said, starting to feel annoyed. “I just confessed to you, and you’re laughing.” He declared, the hurt in his voice was visible now.
He was about to stand up and leave when he felt a hand on his shoulder, holding him down.
“Junnie no. Wait” The other said, and Jun had no option but to obey. “I’m sorry, I’m not laughing at you, is just that you… Really confuse me sometimes.” He confessed.
“Do I?” Junhui asked.
“See? You don’t even notice, oh my god.” Wonwoo said, and he laughed one more time before taking a deep breath and recomposing himself. “I got something to say too.”
“I’m all ears.” Jun said, turning his whole body so he could face Wonwoo.
“On that day we decided I was going to adopt Star. I thought you were going to ask me out.” He said, and it took Jun three seconds to process the whole sentence.
“WHAT?”
“Yeah. I was so prepared to say yes you have no idea. I was already thinking where we could go on our first date, and where we would have our first kiss and…” Wonwoo mumbled, and Junhui felt his cheeks heat at the thought. “God, this is so stupid, I was so stupid.” The editor said. “And then you started talking about adopting Star, which was, by the way, something I’ve always wanted but not exactly what I thought I’d hear that day.”
Wonwoo took his hand out of Jun’s shoulders and lead it to hold both of his hands, he squeezed them tight and looked at them as if those were the hands who could catch him stars. He only lifted his gaze when he opened his mouth to say
“Ever since that day, I thought the only thing we’d ever be for a while would be just friends. But then you come here, start the same speech just to say that…You like me?” He asked, a stupid smile shining on his face. “You really will be the death of me some day.” He said, and then he buried his face in Junhui’s hand, and for a lot they just stayed that way. It was Jun, still confused but extremely amused with the turn of the events, that decided to break the silence.
“Does that mean you say yes for a date?” He asked, just to make sure.
“Of course, you idiot.” Wonwoo exclaimed, pulling Jun for a hug and holding him tight. Jun smiled wide and hid his face on the crook of Wonwoo’s neck as he hugged him back, never feeling so content in his life.
That day, Junhui fell asleep in his apartment, with the voice of Wonwoo on the other line of his phone, telling him how he’d imagine their first date to be and what he wanted to do for the many others to come.
😺