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Seokmin is a college student. There are deadlines to be done, pressures to be (actually) taken seriously, and situations that he used to find insignificant now turned significant because you’ll finally realize that you’re on your own (really). Your parents, who used to be a shoulder you can rely on are now 10 steps away from you, looking at your back, and most of the time, when you look over your shoulders - they aren’t really there anymore.
Which is why Seokmin’s bestest companions are not himself, his parents, or colleagues but coffee. And his very handy library card.
You see, the library gives out free coffee every 4 pm, and point to dot, ends at 4:10. By estimation, Seokmin could arrive just before harabeoji ends up waving them away but he can only do that if he leaves the school as early as 3:45 pm. But today, Seokmin miscalculated how long it will take him to get down from the tower which means he’s going to be 5 minutes late if he’ll take his usual road. And he cannot be late, he’s broke, and honestly, a free coffee could do so much.
Like improve his general mood for the day.
“You should just give up this free coffee.” Minghao grumbled but still fast-walking to accompany Seokmin. “It’s just coffee.”
“If I ask you to give up your tea and wine, would you do it?” Seokmin said, looking left and right before running to cross the road.
“This isn’t about me.” Minghao retorted, casually pausing in the middle of road which caused Seokmin to splutter in his steps before pulling his friend out of danger. Minghao’s only reply is a heavy sigh as if everything’s such a bother. Seokmin, as usual, was quick to ignore his dramatics, which was a heavily acquainted personality if you’re an art major.
“Stop stopping when you’re in the middle of the road . And yes , this isn’t about you; this is about everything. You can’t judge my caffeine addiction when tea basically has caffeine too. Hell, wine’s even worse, it has alcohol in it.” Seokmin said, smiling when they finally reached the parking lot. He then eyed the short-cut alley which would lead him straight to the library, and nodded to himself as if he finally made up his mind.
“You can go now.” he pushes Minghao in the direction of his motorcycle. “I have a coffee to catch.”
Minghao eyed him suspiciously, “And where will you go?”
“I know a shortcut.”
“Yes, and where ?”
“A shortcut .” Seokmin conspicuously stated, which only made Minghao eyebrows to furrow further. “You know you’re going to be late picking up Mr. Prince, and your 89 day streak will be broken, and he’ll suddenly think that you’re slacking off and he’ll refuse to–”
Minghao lightly tapped Seokmin’s mouth as if he was a mother preventing a child to say a bad word. Seokmin only beamed, and beamed further when he saw his friend finally picking up his helmet.
“First off, it’s 97, keep up. And he started giving me flowers for no reason, I feel like I can finally court him.”
“This is sad.” Seokmin taunted, finally slowly backing away from his friend. “Like sad, sad.”
“I hope you don’t get your library fucking coffee.”
“Oh, I will get my coffee!” Seokmin shouted, now turning his back to his friend, and he then shouted one last time eyes headed towards the alley. “I deserve a coffee!”
Of course, he deserve that dark, bitter that clings to your mouth for a few hours, and leaves your heart unsettled and stomach churning because the acids are bubbling due to the fact that you haven’t eaten anything yet you’ve chosen to feed the stomach something that would leave you shaking to your seats, and your nervous system working overtime to keep you alive and not have a heart attack. He deserves it so much after taken the weight of unpaid labor, more so, the labor of campaigning for a person he didn’t even like after not crediting seokmin’s paper in one of his social classes.
Moreover, Seokmin thinks he deserve the coffee because he actually managed to climb a fence.
Like a ninja.
You’re going to the hidden alley. - MH
Obviously - SM
If you die, I promise to erase the existence of your embarrassing nick wilde phase - MH
3:46. - SM
Fuck off - MH
Stay safe. - MH
Nobody actually uses the hidden alley way. It was obviously tight, and the air feels thin because the walls are filled with pipes, and it’s so long that Seokmin has to squint his eyes to see the end. It may smell a bit odd, and when you look up, you’ll see metal poles filled with laundry but it was the fastest route, and honestly, it wasn’t so bad.
Especially when he reached the middle. Everything feels brighter because the alley way have finally became a lot bigger, and the air smells vaguely like the road, and a hint of coffee.
And of course, like a stupid, overzealous person who shows too much enthusiasm when he could finally sense the goal, Seokmin ran.
Run. Seokmin emphasizes on the run . A full-blown run with his hair bouncing, his bag thumping infront of his chest and he could hear his feets thuck-thuck-thucking into the ground, which is why he could never understand the panic, the quick whooping of his stomach when he was suddenly pulled back, his shirt caught unto a window, leaving him to squeal when he was dragged into the wall. His upper back smashing at the wall, the edge of the window digging at his back and him groaning at the impact. Silence descended after that.
“Gah–Wah.” Seokmin started, eyes wide, and his palms embracing the wall. He is not too sure if he’s about to scream expletives, because he’s pretty sure that he could feel his back actually stinging in pain.
Seokmin was still processing what the fuck happened to him, when suddenly the other side of the window swung open. A voice, soft and sounds so utterly confused echoed in the empty alley.
“What are you doing?” It says, and if Seokmin wasn’t disoriented, he would have laughed at his appalling luck. Minghao would have a fiesta if he knew about this.
Seokmin consciously looked up and saw a dark-haired man, probably around his age, looking down at him with proper concern. He could only blink, mouth opening in retort before he finally admitted, “I got caught in the window.”
“Caught? In my window?” the man incredulously said, now eyeing him up and down. “Huh.”
Seokmin’s not too sure about what that ‘huh’ meant but what he’s sure about is he’s ready to be set free. And when he raised his hands to grab the piece of metal that caught up to his shirt, he found that it was quite a hard task to do alone. He couldn’t grab it at all. Seokmin is aware that if he could just remove his shirt, he’ll be able to free himself but the thing is, Seokmin’s also not quite sure he’s ready to be naked in front of someone.
Especially in front of someone who looks pretty.
Seokmin finally reached his embarrassment quota for the day. In his mind, he’s already drawing up his death sentence, maybe the route to take in the nearest bathroom just to puke his guts because of embarrassment.
Grimacing, Seokmin pulled his hands down loudly, and asked with his hands awkwardly flinging in the air “Can you set me free?”
Silence descended after that, it was only seconds, but the prolonged eye contact was making Seokmin sweat in anticipation. He was about to speak again when suddenly the man smiled, and now casually putting his weight on the window ledge.
“No.” The man answered, Seokmin stared at him, nodding slowly as if he’s trying to decipher the simple no. His eyes moving to the exit of the alleyway. Not because Seokmin was planning to make a dash for it but because he needs someone to confirm if he was hearing the right things.
“No?”
“No.”
“Uh…why?”
The man only folded his arms into his chest. His head tilting to the side. “I’m 50% convince that you’re a thief.”
“A thief? Me? A thief ?” Seokmin noisily said, eyes probably bulging in disbelief. Holishit, this day is getting BETTER, and BETTER. His ideas in socials class are being stolen, he got sent to the tower 5 times for the person who was stealing from him, He climbed a fucking fence, and now, he’s a thief. A thief!
“Look.” Seokmin started, his hands that used to be on the wall now were in front of him, arms out and very ready to explain his circumstance. Maybe plead his case? Because honestly. God.
“I just need coffee. The city library gives out at 4 pm and it’s like what? 4 something. I had a very shitty schedule today, and I want coffee, and I need it because it’s free and I’m a student you see? So, I promise you, I am not stealing because–”
“Your argument is not helping you at all.”
“I swear that just because I’m broke, and rely on library coffee, doesn’t mean that I’m ready to be imprisoned..” Seokmin raised his right hand, the other in his chest.” I lawfully swear that I only got caught by your bloody window.”
“You really want coffee?” The man inserted in the middle of Seokmin’s ramblings.
“I also wish for you to set me free.”
The man then smiled, finally straightening his posture, and loudly clapping the windows’ lower border. “I can only grant one wish though. I’m not a fairy.”
Seokmin doesn’t understand where their conversation is going. Fairy? What fairy? So, Seokmin asked, “Are you mentally ill?”
The man only laughed, his mouth turning upwards, his eyes turning into crescents. And Seokmin’s facial expression might have turned from confusion into pure bewilderment.
“I’m not.”
Okay that I understand, Seokmin thought.
“Not particularly.”
Now. That. That, he doesn’t understand.
The man then announced, “Wait here.” And then Seokmin could hear footsteps, and the smell of coffee drafting to his nose, “6 minutes!”
“6 minutes ?” Seokmin blurted, and the sound of a door opening and closing followed.
“Wait–Hey! Hey!”
Back at the wall, and his shirt positively still stuck. Seokmin wondered if the man was actually serious but no reply followed. And so, Seokmin deemed that it was finally time for his expletives to come out. “Holyfucking–God-okay fuck then, I’ll stay here hanging in this piece of shit window that came out of fucking nowhere. Stupidly waiting for you! For 6 minutes!”
Grumbling under his breath, Seokmin patted his pants for his phone. He pulled it out, and his frown visibly hardened. 4:09. Well, who cares. Who is he anyway to get coffee on a shitty day. Seokmin is in his acceptance stage. Yes. Yes, he is . He’s going to let this blight go, and he will never come back in this alley, and he’ll just steal some of his savings and treat himself because he deserved it.
Then the door opened, and some clacking of ceramics on a glass was heard.
“I’m officially late. Thank you so much for that .” Seokmin grumbled, looking up only to find a grande cup presented to him. The label cafezinho glaringly clear that it was coffee. Seokmin gaped at it.
“Coffee.” The man said, smiling as he presented the cup as if it’s a gift. “What are you staring at? It’s coffee.”
“Please set me free.” Seokmin defeatedly said. Jesus, this day is getting weirder and weirder.
“After you drink your coffee. Compensation for being stupid enough to get yourself stuck on my window.”
Seokmin, weak-minded, did reach out for the coffee. He almost feel glad whe the hot steam sipped through the cup and into his palms. He was still hesitating to take a sip, staring at the black plastic cover before crossly glaring at him again.
“Drinking this would be easier if you set me free.” he pointed out. “Also, I feel like my shirt is being stretched out.
“I’m afraid I can’t.'' The man looks almost mournful. Almost because he failed to conceal the glint in his eyes. “I’ve already granted one of your wish.” He then pointed at the coffee with his mouth. “Coffee. Latte with an extra shot of expresso.”
Seokmin gave him a dead stare. The man only thrusted his lips outward, deeply unbothered by his state of being, instead giving attention to making dainty eyes at him.
Seokmin only rolled his eyes, and finally gave in and took a sip. The rich and dense flavor immediately hit him. Eyes wide, he took note that it was sweet and fragrant, leaving a bitter mouthfeel combined with creamy taste.
“You like it?” Joshua asked, eyes attentive.
Seokmin could only nod. His facial features communicating what he couldn’t. It was wonderful.
“Where did you buy it?” Seokmin blurted after he realized that he had already consumed half of his cup.
Joshua raised his eyebrows.
“You…didn’t buy it?”
Joshua’s reply is to grin from ear to ear.
“Holyshit, You made it?” Seokmin exclaimed, straightening his posture in shock only to splutter when he realized that he was still caught hanging on the window.
“Wait.” Joshua snatched the coffee from his hands replacing it with a new one. “Try this one. Come on.”
Seokmin gave him a pointed stare, looking at the rim of the coffee cup looking if there were drink marks left.
“Do you not indulge in secondhand kisses?” The man teased, eyes looking gentle as if he was genuinely inquiring. Seokmin gave him the middle finger, making the man laugh.
“Drink.” The man said as he drank from Seokmin’s cup. Directly into the spot, Seokmin drank on.
Seokmin chose to ignore this, then looked down at the second cup. He took a second before swinging it back. For a moment, he has to pause and giggle. He’s in shock. It tastes so good.
“I’m fucking keeping this.” He said smiling widely, “What did you put in this?
“Aphrodisiac.”
“Wait, fuck? Really?”
Joshua nodded, looking very honest. Seokmin almost believed him until he said, “Yeah. You’ll forever stay hanging on my window because you’ve fallen under my spell.”
“You’re so full of shit.” Seokmin jokingly muttered, continuing to drink his coffee, standing up. Never mind that he’s talking to a weird man who makes good coffee, and that his back hurt, and that he wanted to enjoy his coffee in a place preferably not in an alley. Seokmin felt happy, and so he asked the man who was currently sipping his leftover coffee, “Now what?”
The man put down the cup, sniffing a little before looking up at Seokmin. A fringe of his caught in his eyelashes that Seokmin cant help but intensely stare at it, wishing that the man would move it away.
“Wanna come inside?”
“This asshole.” Seokmin laughingly said. “You accused me of being a thief, and now you’re inviting me over?”
“Why not? So…do you want to come inside or?”
Seokmin slacking his back then said, “If I do… will I have another one of this tomorrow? For free?”
“Don’t want free library coffee anymore?” The man inquires, now getting up from his position in order to reach his shirt caught in the window. Seokmin was looking over his back and spied that his brown shirt sustained a small rip at the back. Still, he appreciated when the man carefully dislodged it, and immediately smiling as Seokmin faced him.
Seokmin is hyperaware that they are only separated by a wall with a window.
“My name’s Seokmin.” He said, and suddenly he touched both sides of the man’s face slightly shaking it for further emphasis, “And I think you make the best coffee.”
“Well...” The man then reached out to touch the hand currently shaking his head. Steadying it, his hands above Seokmin’s, he said, “Mine’s Joshua. Nice to meet you, Seokmin.”
He then loudly patted the lower board of the window. “Now, climb up.”
Seokmin looked down at the window, it’s literally at his chest part. “Here?” Joshua only nodded enthusiastically. “Don’t you have a fucking door?”
Joshua took his head out, and teasingly looked right and left, “Do you see any?”
“How will I fucking get up then?”
Joshua pouted, and smacked Seokmin’s arms with no warning at all. “This will do.”
Rolling his eyes, Seokmin prepared to finally climb but before that he said, “What if I can’t actually climb because despite having a bulky, sexy –”
“Shut up.”
“– amazing arms I am actually weak?”
“I have pastries too.” Joshua reasoned, and really, Seokmin might not have a weak arm but he admits that he was indeed a weak-minded man. Bribed at the expense of food, he easily climbed inside despite knowing that this situation could be closely related to a kidnapping crime scene.
His father and Minghao will be disappointed, and his mother will praise him for his unabating frugality.
A win-win situation, if you ask Seokmin.
“Stay in my bed for a moment.” Joshua said.
Seokmin did so because he was easy, and he was now holding their cups. “I’ll wait for you here. And oh, no stealing.”
Joshua smirked at the earlier reference before slowly backing away, closing the door.
With his heart on his throat, Seokmin also realized that he was going to spend sometime with a pretty person. With the said realization, Seokmin mumbled, “What a fucking day.”
And accidentally took a sip from the first coffee. He looks down, and took note that it was directly on that spot .
Second-hand kiss.
Seokmin feels his ear go red.