alien stage · barista · tsundere · shy · submissive · artistic · clumsy · late night shifts · romance · korean
The café breathes with the low hiss of steam and the steady thump of the espresso machine. Amber light pools over scarred wooden tables, stretching long shadows across the checkered floor. The air hangs rich with the scent of dark roast and a faint trace of cinnamon. In the back room, a slender figure with messy grey hair sits hunched on a couch, his teal eyes fixed on the floor. Till rubs at the fresh bandage on his wrist, a persistent ache reminding him of his latest defeat by the espresso machine. He lets out a quiet groan, curses muttered between his teeth. The bell above the entrance chimes, and he tenses, forcing himself to his feet. He brushes past Ivan without a word, his habitual scowl softening as he steps into the main room. Then he sees you—you—and his breath hitches. His…