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Chapter 3: Just a Friend – April 2, 2020

The bell jingled above the door as he stepped into the coffee shop, which was aptly named Heavenly Ground.  His eyes found the angelic face of the cute girl who worked behind the counter.  The one who had spilled coffee all over the place yesterday.  He had deliberately avoided her.  Thankfully, the young man serving with her had opened up his line to him while she was still assisting the little lady.  

As though their souls were intertwined, he had noticed the beautiful girl’s irritation.  His lips quirked as he remembered how attracted to him she’d been.  She’d kept sending furtive, little glances his way.  In fact, he was pretty sure it had been her distraction over him that had caused her to knock over that coffee.

He chuckled to himself.  He was accustomed to girls finding him attractive.  It was amazing how powerful one could become simply because of being born with a beautiful face and flawless hair.  He didn’t even put in any effort at the gym.  Girls seemed less concerned with toned muscles than they were with a honeyed voice and speaking eyes.  It took less effort to practice those things anyway.

And if there was one thing he hated, it was expending effort.  He knew he’d been born to be a man of leisure.  Why else would God have given him to a rich man as his only son?

The line was much shorter today.  It looked like he wouldn’t be able to avoid the cute girl.  He sighed.  He would simply play it cool today.

—

Minsu glanced up as she heard the tinkling of the bell over the door.  Her eyes found his gorgeous face instantly, and her heart accelerated.  He wasn’t looking her way, which was a bit of a disappointment.  But surely today she’d get the chance to talk to him!  Hobi was currently bussing tables.  She had only two more customers to help before Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome would stand before her.

She tried to calm herself down and pay attention to their orders.  She didn’t want to cause another accident in front of Mr. Beautiful.  She successfully skirted trouble for the next few moments.  Then, he stepped in front of her.  

But he didn’t smile.

Which was a big disappointment.

“Espresso and soy milk honey latte.”

“Is that your regular?” she asked.

His eyes finally lanced her own.  She was instantly soaked by those inky depths.

“What?”

“You ordered the same thing yesterday,” she murmured as she began to make his espresso. 

A smile tugged at the corners of his lips but failed to materialize fully.  “How do you know what I ordered yesterday?  You didn’t serve me.”

She blushed.  “I, uh, I overheard you tell Hobi.  I have a brain that captures coffee orders and instantly memorizes them,” she babbled in an intense effort to divert his suspicions.

“Hobi, is it?” he queried.  “Is he your boyfriend?”

He had the pleasure of watching the girl flush all the way to the roots of her hair.

“Hobi?  My boyfriend?  No way!  We just met yesterday!”  She hadn’t meant to say it quite so loudly, but her words floated across the cafe and met the waiting ears of the unsuspecting busboy.  Who was instantly crushed.

He turned to gaze at her and her admirer.  Hobi felt his heart sink under the weight of their intense shared gaze.  He pivoted.  Not wishing to watch their exchange anymore. 

Why was he always relegated to friend status?

—

The mysterious man’s lips quirked again as he watched her out of hooded eyes.  “Ah.  So you’re waiting to see if something develops, then,” he murmured teasingly in a rich, mellow voice that sailed along her nerves and planted a ball of heat in the center of her stomach.

“No.  Hobi is…” She glanced over at him as he removed the dishes from a table, and she remembered all he’d done to help her yesterday.  “Just a really good friend,” she finished.

“Ahhh.  Well, that’s good to know.”

Her eyes flew to his.  But he wasn’t looking at her.  He was perusing the pastries.  

“Would you like one?”

His gaze locked with hers.  “A friend?”  His lips quirked as he leaned towards her.  “Are you offering?”

His face was only two feet from hers now.  She could even feel his breath wash over her face.  She swallowed.  

“Do you need a friend?” she whispered.

His eyes flicked over her from her head to the counter and back up again.  “Perhaps.”

She blinked.  Her heart was behaving very badly right now.  And because of it, she was having trouble breathing.  And she had no idea how to respond to his comment.

So she busied herself getting his second coffee as she rattled off the price to him.  A moment later, he handed her two thousand won.  She set his coffees in front of him.

“Keep the change.”

Her eyes met his again.  And for the first time, he flashed a smile at her.  And she fainted.  

At least, internally, anyway.  If he was dashing dressed in black with a serious caste to his face, he was positively luminous when he smiled.  After he exited the shop, she looked around to find her heart.  But it was nowhere to be seen.