2 years later
The coffee shop was full of people as I ran back and forth between orders. Since I had left BTS I stayed in Seoul and became a barista. Many companies didn't want me when i auditioned because of my looks. I was not girly enough for them and they didn't want any girls copying Amber's look from f(x). Since then I had grown my hair out so it reached the middle of my neck. I had also colored it black so I didn't stick out as the member who left BTS. I had also begun wearing girly clothes for the same reason.
I hurried over the the counter to take someone's order when all the sudden people started rushing to windows, cheering and squealing. A group of people walked in with a crowd of girls watching then through the window and some followed close behind.
"Hi welcome!" My coworker Kwon bowed to them from behind one of the counters. "can we order" a shorter one asked. His face was concealed behind a black dust guard. "yes i'll take your order now." Kwon smiled wide at the boys. He must have recognized them from some where.
Someone called my name from one of the tables. My boss, Eun Ji, called my over to the table she was cleaning. I weaved through the crowd of people over to her. "yes ma'am?" I yelled over the crowd. "Go change out of your uniform and get on the stage" she motioned to the tiny stage off on the right side of the stage. Between 4pm and 5pm I was put on that stage to sing popular songs requested by the crowd and some coffee themed songs.
I nodded and ran back to the employe room. I felt eyes on me as I moved quickly through the crowd and disappeared into the back room.
When I came back out I was wearing ripped skinny jeans and a large red sweater. I finally felt comfortable being on the tiny stage with no more uniform and a crowd to hear me. The regulars at the coffee shop clapped as I sat at the stool on stage. This silenced the others. The rest of the crowd murmured curiously at me. "안녕" i smiled at everyone. "We are open for song requests now." people began to write their requests on the papers at their tables and dropped them into the box sitting on stage. One person caught my eye. He was one of the men I assumed was famous since he had girls staring with hearts in their eyes. I kept my eyes locked on his request in the box so i knew to pick that first. The girls would love it which Eun Ji would love. It would earn more profit which was Eun Ji's favorite thing.
I reached down and grabbed the paper and opened it. I raised my eyebrows at the words. "remember me? Please sing Coffee by BTS" I felt my heart sink in my stomach. BTS....Bangtan Boys. I missed them so much it hurt. I missed Jhope so much it made me want to rip out my heart. I choked down those emotions and began to sing. "baby baby 그대는
Caramel Macchiato
여전히 내 입가엔

그대 향기 달콤해
baby baby tonight" Thee girls in the crowd went insane as they cheered. I knew it wasn't for my singing though. I was a rapper. There was no way their cheering was for my singing. It was for BTS. I sang peacefully until I got to Jhope's part. I felt tears form and my voice filled with more emotion. "1,2,3,4
The days when I used to be
intoxicated with your scent all day
I remember we chose to break up
after promising our futures together. As I drink this minty coffee that you used to like, I think of you, rewind. A lot of time passed and these days,
I sometimes miss you,
I wonder why?"
The girls started cheering again which I used to hide my short sobs. Eun Ji gave me a look so I would pull myself together. I did quickly for fear I would be fired.
***
I finished work at about 7pm. The celebrity boys had left and I was now emotionally done with everything. I took the subway back to my apartment and trudged up to my door. When I entered I was met with a lonely room. I immediately went to the BTS posters I had on my bedroom walls. I did this every night. I walked to the posters and stared at Jhope thinking that we will keep or promise soon. So far that promise didn't exist anymore. I wasn't sure if I was still his girlfriend. I wasn't sure if he truly wanted to see me again.
Then I got a knock on my door. "Did someone follow me home?" I thought as I walked hesitantly to the door. No one knew where I lived except Eun Ji and of course my neighbors but none of them ever payed a visit.
I opened the door slightly to see one of the men from before standing at the door. It was the one who requested the BTS song. His face was concealed by a dust guard and sun glasses and his hair was tucked into a black beanie.
"Um I'm sorry but if you are here to ask me out or something, I'm not interested. I have a boy friend so..." the man chuckled and pushed my door open. I tried to push back but he was stronger.
With a single move he was in my apartment with the door shut and locked behind him. "sir! Please!" I couldn't scream since I was so scared. Before I could get a good look at him, his mask was off and his lips where crashed into mine. I frantically tried to pull him off. Instead I only managed to rip his hat off. He pulled away and smiled at me.
That unique smile.
The crinkling nose.
The long face.
He pulled his glasses off and stared into my eyes. Even his crinkled eyes seemed to be smiling. "You grew your hair out?" He ran his fingers up my neck and played with the black hairs on my head. "no way" I froze. This man...he...is he Jhope. I couldn't in the dark apartment. I reached over the the light switch and flipped the lights on. Jhope's face shown like an angel in the light. "Jhope!" I sobbed and jumped up on him. My legs wrapped around his waist and arm arms fit perfectly around his neck. He pulled my into a tight embrace and put his head in the curve of my neck. That had always seemed to be his favorite place.
"Oh my god this can't be real!" I cried. "No you are right. I'm not real. I'm a dream." I pulled back and my face fell. He pulled me close again and laughed lightly. " ok ok sorry that was mean. I'm real. I swear" I smiled and kissed him deeply. He returned this kiss with deep desire and longing. Before I knew it he had back me up into my room and shut the door. His breath was hot against my face when we broke apart to catch our breaths. He pushed me over to my bed and lay me down on my back. He crawled over me kissed along my jaw then up to my lips. "jhope?" I mumbled before he rolled off me and pulled me close to him. "I missed you so much." he was crying now. I had only seen him cry once before. Both being because of me. He cried for me. He was more than crying now. He was full on sobbing. His arms pulled me tight on my back and my shoulders and his face rested on top of my head. His sobs shook my body in his hold. "Jhope. It's ok" My hands reach around his waist. One of his hands moved up to his face to cover his crying expression. I looked up and tried to move his hand but there was no movement. "no don't" he cried, "i look ugly right now. You should see this." he was crying harder with every word. I used as much force as I could to move his hands away. Finally I could see his face. He had tears staining his cheeks and his face was puffy. "you're right. you do look ugly" I teased. He laughed through his sobs before finally letting his emotions calm.
We laid in silence for a few minutes. His chest rose against my head and my hands moved in circled at the base of his back. A small kiss pressed against my head then the arms around me tightened.
"I love you" Jhope whispered into my hair, "I love so much it hurt without you!" I leaned my head up and kissed him. "i love you too. More than my heart can take" Jhope was satisfied with my answer.
We both drifted to sleep with soft kisses still tickling or skin.