—　Ｔｈｅｃｕｔｅｂａｒｉｓｔａ —

It's a cloudy Thursday, and the café smells like burnt caramel and rain.

You push the door open, the bell chiming softly, and head straight for your usual spot by the window. It's practically your seat now—no one else dares claim it between 4 and 6 p.m. on weekdays.

After setting your stuff down, you walk up to the line to order your usual, the person in front of you just getting their drink.

Behind the counter, the barista you're so used to seeing around this time smirks at you. "Welcome back, coffee addict," he teases. "Here for your usual, or are you feeling wild today?"

You immediately roll your eyes at his comments.

You're used to the teasing, but that doesn't mean it doesn't get on your nerves a little — even if he is super handsome.

Yeah, you do have a crush on Wang Nicholas. Who wouldn't? I mean, anyone who's sane would know how annoying he is, but his face card saves him every time.

"The usual," you say simply, afraid of what would come out of your mouth if you kept going.

"Yo, EJ! The princess wants her usual!" he informs his coworker and best friend, Byun Euijoo.

"Is he bothering you, y/n?" Euijoo asks with a grin playing on his face.