Chapter Text
Even as you worked together, it was natural instinct for you to end you calls or conversations with Jaehee with a quick chirp of, “Cheer up, Jaehee!”
Jaehee always said something different but along the lines of a thank you or returning the gesture. It was a reflex between the two of you, a way to say goodbye and give affection. You were just used to it.
Until the day Jaehee questioned it.
It was after you closed up, the darkness outside closing in as you decided to resign back to your apartment above the shop. You set your broom down behind the counter and let out a tiny yawn. Jaehee was behind you scrubbing down the espresso machine for the third time that day.
“Cheer up Jaehee,” You said as you started to walk away from the counter only to be gently grabbed by your wrist. You turned around and looked at Jaehee with confusion and then happiness as you noticed the look in Jaehee’s eyes.
“Why?” Jaehee asked, a confused smile on her lips, “I’m not unhappy.”
You paused and thought.
“I don’t know. It’s just… our thing.” You rambled on, not having any clue what you meant, “Just remind you to cheer up, I guess. Like maybe you’re sad when I leave.”
“Really?”
“No.” You felt a slight frustration in your chest as you searched for the words to describe it. “It’s… complicated. I can’t just say I love you, you know.”
“I…love you?”
“You know, like friends, that’s what you mean to say when you tell me to cheer up, no?” You said. You moved your hand down so Jaehee’s gentle grip was no longer around your wrist but the palm of your hands and you intertwined your fingers.
“I never thought about it.”
“Me neither.” You smiled, lying slightly, as you watched as a small smile creeped onto Jaehee’s lips. You almost wanted to kiss her, but weren’t willing to take that step quite yet. You weren’t there. Jaehee wasn’t even close to fully realizing just what it meant when you said to cheer up every day; she was just beginning. And you couldn’t put all of her feelings in jeopardy for one time of a kiss that might end up being the last—
Jaehee leaned in slowly and you couldn’t tell whether she was looking at the ground or her eyes were closing. It wasn’t like Jaehee had to look up or down at you; you were practically the same height, if not for the fact that you were an inch or so shorter.
The warmth of Jaehee’s lips on your own sent a shock through your body.
Your entire body went lax at the pressure and the movement of her lips having not realized just how long you’d waited to kiss the girl in front of you.
Jaehee always assumed that you were like this with all of your friends, that your nights curled together after a movie were just something you needed to feel close to someone. She’d seen you interact with your other friends, your friends outside of the RFA. She’d been discouraged when she saw you hold hands and kiss each other on the cheek. It had either meant you were together or you were just that affectionate with everyone. She didn’t know which one was really worse.
All of those thoughts and memories rushed through Jaehee as she let herself go, wrapping her arms around your waist and pressing your bodies together. You weren’t protesting, neither of you were. Your arms curled around Jaehee’s neck, hand at the base of her head gently holding her while you pushed forward.
You finally broke apart with breathless pants, foreheads resting together.
“Jaehee…” You breathed out and nuzzled against Jaehee’s cheek, “I’ve wanted to do that for a very long time.”
“How long is a very long time?”
“Remember when you told me to be careful of Seven?” You said quietly. Jaehee frowned, remembering that moment. She’d been sitting in her office on her break and looking at her phone the entire time. She’d assumed you had held feelings for Seven from the way you defended him.
“You mean when he made an idiot of me by not deleting my message?” Jaehee groaned at the thought. It was embarrassing enough for her to tell it to Zen and you at the time, then for Seven to repeat it and know that her boss had read it… It had been torture.
“Aw, come on. I thought it was cute. ‘I’m not an innocent girl who has no experience whatsoever.’” You giggled and pressed a quick kiss to Jaehee’s lips again.
“You still remember?”
“Of course I do. It was the first moment I thought about kissing you.” Another peck. “You talked about having so much experience.” Another kiss, slightly longer. “I was already too in love with you not to think about it.”
“Too in love… with me?” Jaehee thought back on the time before you convinced her to care about herself over her work. How anyone could love her then was beyond her. You noticed the confusion in her eyes.
“You were dedicated and passionate… I don’t know. It seems weird now.” You shook her head slightly and pulled slightly away from Jaehee awkwardly. You’d gone too fast, you knew it. A crooked smile on your lips, you pulled your hand away and let it drop to your side. Jaehee didn’t move.
“No, it sounds lovely.”
“Really?” You asked, answered as Jaehee pulled you forward by your hips and pressed her lips to yours again. Her teeth bit down slightly into your bottom lip, your gasp of surprise leaving you open as Jaehee snaked her tongue inside.
Jaehee tasted like cream and chocolate, which was surprising as well. You had always assumed she’d taste like coffee, but you guessed that Jaehee must have snuck one of today’s chocolate cream puffs. Your chest burned with a need to breathe but you couldn’t pull away; you wouldn’t pull away; you didn’t want the moment to ever end. You wanted to be that close to Jaehee forever, to know for the rest of your life that Jaehee was that near and felt the same way.
Every moment could be the last one before Jaehee realized she didn’t really know how she felt.
Jaehee turned you around, pressing you gently against the counter as you were too lost in thought and Jaehee to notice the cold marble digging against your spine. Everything was going slightly blurry from the lack of oxygen but you still held desperately onto Jaehee like your life depended on it.
Jaehee seemed to notice when you became less enthusiastic, pulling away slowly and leaving peppered kisses around the outside of your mouth.
“I love you…” You breathed out as you took a few deep breaths to realign your vision. “God, Jaehee, I love you so much.”
Once your head stopped spinning, you heard a persistent knocking on the front window beyond the music you hadn’t even noticed that you had forgotten to turn off. Jaehee didn’t even bother to stop the kisses she kept pressing gently across your entire face, up your cheekbones and across your nose.
You turned your head to see Zen smiling and waving from the front window.
“Jaehee,” You said quietly, “Jaehee stop.”
Jaehee paused for a moment with confusion in her eyes. You jerked your head slightly towards the front window. Jaehee turned and saw Zen, still standing and smirking. You watched the girl in front of you as her face turned bright red and her hands moved to cover her face.
“Should I go let him in?” You asked softly, laying a hand on Jaehee’s shoulder. She nodded in response and you sighed before sliding out of your spot between Jaehee and the counter.
“Hey, Zen.” You chimed with slight disappointment as you opened the door.
“Did I interrupt something or…?”
“No, you’re fine. Come in.” Jaehee called, having made herself presentable and leaning casually against the counter as if nothing had happened. “Did you need something?”
“Not really. I just came by to see how my two biggest fans are doing. I heard over some social media that you two are really getting a following. You were recommended to me over twitter yesterday so I thought I’d come visit.” Zen looked awkwardly between the two, you leaning against the door and Jaehee leaning against the counter. “Are you sure I didn’t interrupt something?”
“You’re fine, Zen. Have you eaten? I made some cinnamon buns this morning; they’re not fresh but they’re still good.” You made your way towards the counter, watching Zen follow you as you passed by him.
You walked behind the counter, right next to Jaehee, as Zen stood in front smiling.
“How’s business been?”
You bumped your hip lightly against Jaehee’s to let her know to move from the door to the counter. Jaehee moved, but not without pushing slightly back in response. You smiled and knelt down, reaching underneath the counter to grab a cinnamon bun and put it into a napkin.
“It’s been pretty good. We’ve been having to stay open later and later due to our customer influx which is good. I suppose I can thank her social skills for that. Without her twitter following and generally pleasant demeanor, I don’t think we ever could have gotten as far as we have.” Jaehee said, almost sounding like she was bragging.
“I mean, all I do is take pictures of Jaehee’s coffee and bake sometimes. A coffee shop is nothing without its coffee.” You retorted slyly. You handed the bun over to Zen who studied it in awe.
“This is gorgeous. You made this when?”
“Around four o’clock this morning, I think. They’re not fresh, but they should still taste good. If it’s not, you should come back tomorrow morning. We open at six.” You stated. You gave Zen a look that was supposed to tell him to come back later, but he was too busy tearing into the bun to notice.
"How much do these sell for?” Zen asked, a piece in his mouth. You almost didn’t get a chance to respond as Jaehee had moved next to you yet again and was leaning against you, pressing the entirety of her side against yours.
“Uhm,” You started for a moment, “Two thousand or so won, I think, it’s on our menu…”
“It’s really good. I didn’t know you could bake.”
“My best friend’s Mom was a pastry chef so, you know, you pick a few things up here and there.” Your voice wavered as Jaehee’s arm snaked around your waist and she shoved her hand into your back pocket. “You know, it’s kind of late, are you sure you don’t want to come back tomorrow? It will be much more pleasant and the atmosphere is way better. Plus, the two of us are exhausted.”
“I can take a hint. I’ll just take this and go, okay? Have a good night you two. I’ll be back tomorrow.” Zen said and he started to walk towards the door. “Don’t forget to lock up again after me. Wouldn’t want the two of you to get robbed and have it be my fault.”
You two watched Zen walk away and the door shut behind him. He waved goodbye and you both waved back, stressed smiles on your faces, and you watched him walk past the window until he was completely out of sight.
“Jesus Christ, Jaehee, what’s up with you?” You immediately turned and asked as soon as you couldn’t see Zen. You intended for your question to come out with love and concern but instead it sounded like daggers of accusation.
“I’m so sorry. I just can’t believe this. You and Zen always told me to go after what makes me happy and… hearing you say that to me made me so happy I couldn’t help myself.” Jaehee paused to scan your face. “Are you upset?”
“God, no. It was just Zen. He’s been rooting for me since day one. I just… I don’t want you to rush this if you’re not sure.”
“I’m sure. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
You laughed a bit despite the serious tone of Jaehee’s words, “Maybe you shouldn’t have opened a coffee shop if you were only that sure.”
Jaehee cracked a small smile and took your face into both of her hands. You paused, anxiety running through you veins. It felt vaguely like being a trapped animal; you couldn’t run away from this situation if it went badly.
“It has taken me a very long time to realize that I love you. I’m sorry for that. All this time I thought the jealousy in my heart was something else, that the happiness was just a byproduct of a friendship I never had. You’re everything I want in this world and there is no rushing involved.” Jaehee stared deeply into your eyes as you processed what you’d heard.
You were shocked speechless. You knew Jaehee was waiting for a response to literally anything she had said but your brain suddenly felt like it was filled with exhaust fumes. You had dreamed, literally, about hearing Jaehee say something along those lines, but it was usually at a wedding altar.
“I love you, Jaehee.” You stuttered out.
“I love you too.” Jaehee released you from her hold and took a slow step away. The smile on her lips was kind and sweet as she picked the rag she’d dropped off of the floor and began to finish her job of scrubbing down the espresso machine.
You looked on in absolute shock.
In a trance, you walked towards the door and made sure to lock it before resuming your walk up the stairs to your shared apartment. As you reached the door at the top, you heard Jaehee’s voice ring from downstairs.
“Cheer up, love.”
It sounded like I love you.