Chapter Text
The loud beeping sound blaring from In-ho’s phone, waking him up. After that is his repetitive cycle of him taking a shower, choosing his work clothes that consist of the same white dress shirts, black suits, and black ties in his closet, then eating any food he can find in his fridge for breakfast. He plugs off his laptop containing today’s material of presentation and gets ready to be a corporate slave. After making sure nothing is left behind, he locks the door and starts his car. He got less than 3 hours of sleep last night so he needs something to keep him awake—that is his usual black coffee with no sugar.
He pulled over to the nearby coffee shop, also prepared his wallet knowing the exact money he had to pay, but he noticed that there was no one inside. Finally, he sees the paper that sticks to the glass wall saying “CLOSED FOR RENOVATION UNTIL NEXT WEEK. WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.” Great, what a way to start a morning. Knowing that lashing his emotions to the empty shop will get him nowhere, In-ho decides to buy coffee from a convenience store. He hates the taste of it, however it's better than making himself a fool on his presentation because he couldn't open his eyes.
In-ho is your usual first child burdened with heavy expectations on his future since he was born. He considers it a success when he lands the CEO position after years of paperworks and notes from his superiors. Now that he's the said superior, it's not like his job has become easier. Every day is either meetings or business trips to join another meeting. Well, he doesn't care anymore, not since the death of his wife. Right now he considers himself an empty husk, working just to distract himself from the grief.
The rest of the morning went smoothly, In-ho managed to pull through his presentation without a single yawn. That is until the clock just passed 1 P.M and he just finished his lunch break. His satisfied stomach decided to tell his brain that it's time to take a nap, clueless about how humans have to do the inevitable duty in order to survive called job. Well, there's nothing he can't do other than splashing his face with water for the remaining day.
As he skimmed through his paperworks with consciousness no more than a goldfish, his phone suddenly rang—slightly startling him and waking him up. 'Thanks… I guess' he thought while picking up the call. “Hello, this is Hwang In-ho.”
“Hm? It's rare for you to be this formal with me. I guess you didn't see my name before picking up” In-ho finally realizes who he's talking to… And he just remembered something crucial.
“... Our meeting” 2 P.M, in a café, with the Sales Director. He already imagined the stupid grin plastered on that man's face.
“Yeah, does that mean you forgot?” The last thing he wanted is the Sales Director blackmailing him that he once forgot his meeting. So he refuted, “I didn't forget—just wait for me in 15 minutes, I'll be there”
And with that, In-ho goes—shoving his laptop and starts his car. Looking at the address while he slapped himself awake, hoping he wouldn't cause an accident. After a 10 minute long ride, he found himself in front of a café with an… Interesting aesthetic. The walls were the color of milky coffee and summer skies, the kind of palette you'd expect in a beachside tearoom, not the backdrop for a client meeting. He reluctantly checks the address again, it was right here. The map showed the name “Cloud Brew,” the exact café he’s standing right in front of. He knew the Sales Director was an unpredictable man, but he thought even that man wouldn't do something like this without a purpose.
With nothing to lose, he finally enters the café. The roasted coffee beans scent welcomed him, warm enough to make his shoulders loosen despite himself. As he expected, the customers are mostly teenage girls looking for a perfect spot to snap their pictures and post it on their social media. So he began to scan the room, but his supposed client is not here. Bewildered, he immediately calls the Sales Director back.
“Salesman, what is the meaning of this?” he asked with a low but firm voice. Instead of an answer, he got himself a chuckle.
“Do you like it? It's different from your usual, boring glass-and-steel coffee bunkers. I'd like a change of scenery sometimes, oh and I think you would like the owner” so it is part of his scheme.
“What do you mean by that last sentence? Just get your ass to the front door.”
“Did I say I had arrived? I'll be there at 2 P.M sharp. Just order something while you wait. Who knows, maybe you’ll leave with more than just a business deal” thus the Sales Director ends their phone call with a more confusing statement.
Just like the Sales Director suggested, he decided to approach the counter, where the barista was standing. That's when he understands what his friend means. A man his age, slightly taller than him, with big and brown eyes, soft like a polished wood. His messy black hair, so fluffy brushing the nape of his neck and shining softly thanks to the sunlight passing through the big window. And there's his wide toothy smile, the kind you couldn't help but return. Before he could stop himself, In-ho realized that the stranger had noticed him standing like a deer caught in headlights.
“Um, hello? What would you like to order, sir?” What a silly thought, mesmerized by a stranger pouring coffee in this day and age. He fixed his composure and started looking at the menu.
‘Velvet Mocha Cloud, Caramel Cocoa Swirl, Baby Blue Frappé…? None of these words are in my dictionary, where's the plain black coffee?’ The man furrowed his brow, failed to choose what beverages suits his taste the most from the bunch of strange looking drinks.
“Uh, excuse me… Do you have anything… Like black coffee?” In-ho asked after clearing his throat. The man in front of him thought to himself, keeping his warm smile. “Hmm… Not exactly. Most of our drinks are on the sweeter side. But—” he said as he pointed to the menu sheet. “If you like something strong, we have a Dark Cocoa Americano. It's cocoa based, but with the same boldness as coffee.” His voice, deep but calming, went smoothly to In-ho's ears—tickling his brain.
“Is this your first time here? I don't think I've ever seen you” the barista asked again, softly. “Yes, I have a meeting here… My client's choice” In-ho replied, then wondering why he needs to add the detail. Suddenly, the man's eyes lit up like he noticed something. “Oh, are you Hwang In-ho? Yesterday someone reserved a spot for you. He didn't tell me his name, he told me to just call him The Salesman and he said you would know”
‘Of course he would do that,’ In-ho nodded, confirming that it's indeed him. “Alright, so… What would you like to drink, Mr. Hwang?” He asked again, going back to their previous topic. “Oh… Right, dark cocoa americano…” In-ho said, unsure. Seeing the man’s doubt, the barista seems to think about something.
“Or… I can make you plain black coffee if you prefer” he said, trying to ease In-ho. “Well then… I'll just stick to regular black coffee” he replied, half-smiled. “Great, coming right up. You may sit on the reserved seat there” said the man cheerily.
After confirming his order, In-ho sits on his reserved seat, also waiting for his cunning friend, demanding an answer. Unknowingly, he finds himself staring at the barista again, or as he assumed—the owner. The man starts to roll his sleeves, switching to his working mode. He reached for the grinder, tipping in a handful of glossy dark beans. Every move is not the hurried, careless one, In-ho knows he's an expert. Before he examines more of the owner’s work, a finger snaps in front of him.
“Hello, Earth to Mr. Hwang In-ho” there he is, the Sales Director, arriving at the worst time possible. “You understood, right?” He said smugly, like he knows from the very beginning that the owner is In-ho’s type.
“Shut up, and what's the meaning of all this? Did you just… Set me up with the owner?” In-ho asked, baffled by his friend’s actions. The Sales Director just leaned back, acting like he's innocent.
“Hey, don't give me that look. I just thought you could use a… Little something different. You've been carrying the same weight for years, and I'm not trying to replace anything—just thought maybe it wouldn't hurt to breathe somewhere else for a change.”
So his friend just wanted him to let go of his wife’s death… It indeed has already been 8 years. The grief was so much that he just dumped himself more work rather than finding actual joy. Before he could say anything, a nice warm cup of black coffee already made its way to his table. “Your coffee, sir,” the man said, smiling politely. The said man also noticed there's a new companion in front of In-ho. “Oh, you would be… The Salesman, right?” his friend nodded and immediately told the owner his order.
“Strawberry frappe, please.” The standing man wrote his order and went back to his counter leaving a simple “coming right up.” After that, the Sales Director looked at In-ho's simple cup of plain black coffee.
“You know… I brought you here especially to prevent you ordering this same drink you've had for 8 years. I don't think it's on the menu either, did you request this from the owner himself? The audacity.” The man said while shaking his head playfully. In-ho just raised his brows as a reply, and took a sip from the fragrant coffee. It was warm, and of course bitter. But it melts into a quiet sweetness that lingered at the back of his tongue. It was smooth in a way his usual black coffee never managed to be. He found himself taking another sip before he even set the cup down.
“How was it?” the Sales Director asked with a mysterious smile.
“Why do you care?” “Because if it's not up to your standard I wouldn't bring you here, duh” Inho thought to himself, wanted to describe his satisfaction as subtle as possible so the Sales Director won't tease him like a classmate does to their lovestruck pal.
“It was nice.” “Just nice?” In-ho nodded, wanting to finish as soon as possible. “Nicer than your usual ones?” In-ho can't help but nod again. “Yes, I guess…” and with that, the Sales Director suddenly looked further behind In-ho's body, smiling mischievously.
“You heard that? He likes your coffee” so that's why, the owner was just standing behind him the entire time, waiting for him to finish his sentence before delivering the Sales Director's drink. The standing man couldn't help but smile widely. “Well, if you're really fond of my coffee, I'd appreciate it if you become a regular. It's rare to see a man in a suit lingering around my cafe” he said confidently.
“Oh, I didn't expect you to… Eavesdropping on us. It was delightful, really. Even if it's just a black coffee. I never thought… a plain black coffee would be this delicious.” Now he's done blurted out his honest feelings. As embarrassing as revealing it in front of the Sales Director, he's more interested in the owner's reaction.
“Ah, coffee doesn't have to be fancy to be good. You just have to treat the beans right… and give them a little patience.” The owner replied with such a warm smile, slightly burning In-ho's cheeks. The Sales Director kept sipping his strawberry frappe, feeling amused with how the scene was unfolding. He's thrilled that the CEO of the neighboring company is experiencing a second puberty right now, with a cafe owner as well–like some romance drama plot. But more importantly as a friend, he feels relieved that In-ho might recover with this change of environment.
“Well then, shall we continue with our business deal?”