A/N: Enjoy <3
Chapter 13: Room For One
Ollie’s POV
Maybe I was overreacting, a teensy bit dramatic...okay a lot dramatic. But a change in schedule? Haruto always worked the closing shift on Thursdays. What was I supposed to do after finding out that he wasn’t here to make me my cold brew. But it wasn’t like I was going to awkwardly give into the rumors and gossip his coworkers and regular patrons had about us and leave the coffee shop on the basis that he wasn’t here.
So of course, I digressed, and accepted the shitty cold brew his coworker Janice made, pretending that it was as perfect as his.
I guess I’d have to actually work on my graphic arts project, instead of procrastinating by watching him work. The struggle. No, this unhealthy obsession had to stop, I reminded myself.
I was acting like an overly-attached girlfriend over a simple acquaintance.
Besides, he shouldn’t have to fret and be this involved with my drama. Especially with how much trouble Haruto could get in while working. He shouldn’t have to deal with the bullshit that is Benjamin and Mason. But, I was grateful for him being here through it all.
Were we more than just acquaintances? Friends perhaps? No, he was naturally friendly, so it was probably how he treated all his patrons.
The cold brew that Janice made was perspiring faster than the one I normally had; the water from the ice separating as I mindlessly tried to align all the layers on photoshop for my project. Days like this made me wonder why I chose this damn major in the first place. I’d probably get arthritis by the time I graduate and find a job in the field. Then it’d be 40+ years of more photoshopping, squinting, late hours, and a hunched back.
As time went out, and hours of adjusting the opacity, saturation, and whatever settings I attempted to make the poster project even a tad bit more appealing. Patrons came and went, some stayed for thirty minutes, others staring at their screens like me. Every now and then I’d give my eyes a break, stare out the window longingly like they do in those movies, watching as people strolled by.
After reaching a point where I just wanted to give up, the bell to the front door rang, and I swear it was like one of those cheesy kdramas Haruto had raved about. Time seemed to slow down as I looked up, a group of five girls were all chatting rather loudly, as they walked in with a very put together Haruto for once. My lip curled, didn’t peg him for a player, but what was I expecting? The girls, and even men flocked to him during his shift. Why did I expect that to just be a farce. Just because he was different around me? For all I know he was meeting people at his other job or school, flirting with them, maybe even dating them.
I hunched over more, pretending to be engrossed in my assignment as they headed to the counter. My eyes went cross-eyed as I stared at the screen, hoping they’d just get their coffee and leave.
Their small-talk died down as they placed their order, heading towards the other counter. Flicking through the layers, I waited, trying to seem intently busy on finishing a project I didn’t want anything to do with. Eventually they got their drinks before walking towards the entrance.
“Ollie!” Fuck. So close. Resisting the urge to hide my face, I glanced up to see Haruto staring at me with that signature grin. The girls looking between us before one ushered them outside. He made a beeline to my table, and pulled up a seat in front of me. “Oh, geez, I’m sorry I forgot to tell you I had a study session.”
You mean study date? I wanted to ask. With a harem of girls? Instead, I chewed at my lip before responding, “Janice told me. Shouldn’t you follow them? To the study session?”
I pointed as the girls started walking away. “Oh, we finished already. The girls wanted coffee before the movie.”
“Movie?” I tiled my head. “Uh...looks like they’re going without you.”
He frowned. “Oh, I’m not going. I can only handle so much with them.”
“Oh.”
“Plus, I realized Janice must’ve made your cold brew, and that’s why you’ve barely had a couple of sips.” He picked up the nearly full cold brew and pushed his chair back. “I can make you one.”
I took it from his hands, taking a determined sip, even if it was terrible. “You’re off today, it’s fine. You’ll hurt Janice’s feelings.”
“No, she knows you don’t like anyone else’s coffee. I’ll be right back.” He sped-walked to the counter. The patrons that didn’t frequent the place as often watched the spectacle and I never felt more embarrassed. Haruto was in a white button-up no less. He didn’t even bother with his apron as he strolled in behind Janice and their other coworker, getting to work on my cold brew.
As he came back, he placed it down elegantly like he was at a restaurant. I cringed before replying, “you are so embarrassing. People are staring.”
“Hey, only the best for our favorite customer. Besides, I didn’t win best customer service awards for nothing.” He sat down in his seat, pushing the cash I put on the table back towards me. “On the house.”
“You’re going to get fired one day.”
He gasped dramatically. “And get rid of their best worker? How could they? Who’d make your cold brew then?”
I normally would laugh at his jokes, but after seeing him with those girls, I was determined to set things straight. That and this dependency on his coffee was just as unhealthy as the whole situation with Benjamin and Mason. Granted, I loved his cold brew, but like spring break or my fat crush on Benjamin in high school, this wasn’t something that would last.
“Actually,” I told him seriously, biting my lip before continuing. “I did wanna talk to you.”
He tilted his head, waiting expectantly.
“I need to get this off my chest,” I told him, staring at the coffee cup instead of Haruto’s eyes. “It’s been eating me alive, and I think I just need to come out and say it.”
“Pun intended?” Haruto said after a pause, a smirk in his tone.
“Wha-” Oh, how funny. “No, actually. Not intended”
I glanced up to see a slight pout on his face. “A shame, that was the perfect opportunity.”
“You’re insufferable sometimes, you know that?”
He smirked. “Yet you keep coming back for more.”
I rolled my eyes before sipping my coffee. “I’m trying to be serious here, Haruto.”
“Okay,” he said solemnly. “Sorry, what did you want to talk about?”
“It’s just..” I trailed. “This really should stop.”
“This?”
“Us,” my voice came out sheepishly. “The free coffee, the talking during your shift. You’re seriously going to get in trouble.”
And I’m already being too attached and dependent, I thought. This is how the whole Benjamin thing started. I couldn’t go through it again.
Haruto chuckled, his fingers drumming against the table. “The boss doesn’t mind, she’s in on it, Ollie. Besides, we’re a small coffee shop, this is how we build our clientele, by being courteous and friendly. A little flirty, you know, the works. It helps bring people back since we can’t compete with the larger corporations.”
“I know, but this is more than just a friendly interaction,” I said, realizing that to him maybe it was just the way he acted. It just felt more than friendly in my mind. “You’re going to give people the wrong idea.”
“Is that such a bad idea?” He frowned a bit before laughing nervously. “For people to think things about us? I mean, what if that’s what it took for Benjamin and Mason to leave you alone?”
“That’s not a good idea. Besides,” I brushed aside, gesturing towards the counter. “You should be spending more time flirting with those lovely customers of yours. Men and women flock to flirt with you, even when they don’t order anything at all.”
“Why should I do that?” He scrunched his nose.
I scoffed. “That’s what normal people do, Haruto. You have a plethora of people lined up flirting with you. Even those girls you walked in with were all worshipping the very ground you walked on. People are going to take it the wrong way with the way you treat me. We aren’t getting any younger, shoot your shot, as they say.”
He pursed his lip. “What if I said I tried, but I don’t think they’ve realized it?”
“Really?” I smiled. “Who, the brunette? Or the blond gym rat? Maybe that grad student, the one with the man bun?”
“No…a different person.” He frowned. “I don’t think they’re quite ready for a relationship, or love, or any of that though. I’m taking it slow, or trying to at least.”
“Well, you better start flirting. Try with those other people that flock to you during your shift. There’s a lot of them, you know.” I took another swig of the coffee. “Even those girls you came in with seemed head over heels. I see how heavy people tip you.”
“I don’t know, maybe it’s because I’m only trying to flirt with one,” he said with a smirk, leaning over the table to grab a napkin. Carefully wiping the condensation near my beverage, he placed it underneath the cup to collect the extra water that was forming. “There’s only room for one for all this flirting, and it’s quite a shame he hasn’t caught on yet. One who thinks that it’s a terrible idea when really it wouldn’t change much of anything. Maybe a little more hanging out, some cuddling, and possibly solving some past drama.”
Narrowing my eyes, I blinked, wondering what the hell he was going on about. Change much? With who? I didn’t recall Haruto mentioning someone, and he was always working, when would he have found the time? At school maybe? And if it wasn’t one of the girls, then it was possible I never heard of him, even though Haruto talked a lot during his breaks. Maybe a neighbor, or even a roommate. I never even thought about that, what if it was his roommate? Wait, were they already—
“Ollie?”
“Huh?”
He let out a laugh, poking my forehead. “You’re going to get premature wrinkles with all that thinking.”
“Oh, it’s just—I don’t…”
“Hm?” The smug smile never left his face, making me want to pout and show my frown lines to spite him.
“You never mentioned this person before.” He scoffed, before rolling his eyes. “Don’t give me that eye roll. You know so much about my stupid past, why haven’t you mentioned this person to me?”
“I didn’t think I had to.”
I glared at him incredulously, hurt that he hadn’t said anything about this. “Are you serious? You air Janice’s dirty laundry, heard about my embarrassing sob story, even saw me cry over a piece of a shrimp, but can’t tell me about this guy? Who is he, where did you meet? School, work?”
“Ollie, relax. I haven’t seen you this worked up over nothing.”
“Nothing?” I silently screamed, almost knocking my cold brew over from flailing my arms. “This is a big deal. Wait! Is he a customer? Oh my God, is he here? Like right now?”
He hummed, seemingly enjoying my suffering here. “Maybe? Wouldn’t it be a dead giveaway if he were?”
“Asshole,” I muttered. “Promise me you’ll point him out next time. I want to know, Haruto.”
Haruto smiled before poking my forehead with his pointer finger again. “Don’t worry your pretty little overthinking head. I’ll tell you when I see him, that is if he can catch onto my flirting first. He’s an adorable idiot who needs a little more time, unfortunately.”
He checked his watch before frowning. “I probably should get some rest. My exam’s at seven in the morning. But I’ll be working a full shift tomorrow in lieu of today. I’ll see you then?”
“Yeah.” Nodding, I couldn’t help but feel annoyed about this recent revelation.
Whoever this adorable idiot was, he must’ve been that good for Haruto to keep him a secret. I almost felt betrayed knowing he hadn’t mentioned anything about this mystery guy before. Were we just acquaintances after all, not quite friends if he didn’t want to tell me this big piece of information? My girl friends knew all about Haruto and my not-so subtle crush on him. Or had the friend date really been that awful for him after all?
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