The movement in the coffee shop had slowed down, but the tension between the counter and the corner table was at maximum voltage. Stella was focused, tablet in hand, finalizing Lani's new designs. She had that "don't poke me" expression that usually repelled any human being within a five-kilometer radius.
Any human being, except David.
David glided across the polished floor of the coffee shop as if he were on an ice rink, stopping right in front of her table with a steaming cup and a smile he considered irresistible.
— A dose of caffeine for the most temperamental artist in town
— David announced, depositing the coffee with a flourish.
— On behalf of your number one fan.
Stella didn't even look up from the screen.
— David, I'm trying to work. And I'm not "temperamental," I'm focused. There's a difference.
— Oh, come on, Stella!
— David pulled out a chair, sitting backward, leaning his arms on the backrest.
— I saw what you were reading on your phone during the break. That orange-themed site... it was a Dorama fanfic, wasn't it?
Stella's stroke froze on the tablet. Her ears turned red instantly. She looked up, and if eyes could fire lasers, David would be Swiss cheese.
— I was... doing field research on narrative tropes!
— she lied, her voice rising an octave.
— Right, field research
— David laughed, leaning in closer.
— You act all tough, wearing that leather jacket and that look like you're going to hit someone, but deep down, your heart is a melted marshmallow. You want a Korean CEO to take you to dinner in Seoul, admit it!
The Counter-Attack
Stella dropped the digital pen and crossed her arms.
— And you? The "class clown" who watches rom-coms hidden in the stockroom so you don't lose your "player" pose. I saw you crying at the last episode of Business Proposal last week behind the milk crates.
David choked on thin air.
— That... that was a speck of dust! A speck of coffee that got in my eye! And the ending of that dorama was unfair, Stella! Unfair!
— Aha! So you admit you watch it!
— Stella gave a victorious smile, a smile that, to David's misfortune, made her frighteningly beautiful.
A Real "Dorama" Moment
The two stood staring at each other, a battle of egos that usually ended in funny insults. But for a second, the noise of the espresso machine in the background seemed to fade. David looked at Stella and noticed she had a small smudge of graphite on her cheek.
Without thinking much, he reached out.
— You have something here...
— he whispered, his tone shifting from playful to something lower, more... David.
Stella, who would normally slap anyone's hand away, remained static. He lightly ran his thumb over her skin to clear the smudge. The touch was brief, but electric.
— There
— David said, losing some of his swagger.
— Now you look less like a suffering artist and more like a... well, a Stella.
Stella cleared her throat, quickly looking away to the tablet, her face now matching the color of the strawberries in the pastry display.
— Yeah... thanks. But don't think this gives you the right to invite me for drinks with Valentina again.
— And what if I didn't invite you to drink with Valentina?
— David risked, catching his breath.
— What if I invited you to see the new romance movie release at the cinema? I'll buy the popcorn and you can pretend you're just there to "criticize the cinematography."
Stella pouted, trying to maintain her tough pose, but failed miserably when a small smile escaped. — I'm bringing my own critique notebook. And if the protagonist isn't a redeemable idiot, I'm leaving in the middle.
— Deal!
— David celebrated, jumping out of his chair.
— It's a date, then?
— It's a "joint technical analysis"
— Stella corrected, but her eyes were sparkling.
The Audience
On the other side of the counter, Isaac and Sasha watched the scene, pretending they were organizing napkins. Valentina was leaning against the coffee machine with a look of triumph.
— I told you
— Valentina whispered to the two.
— David might be a slacker at work, but when it comes to romance, he has the instinct of a shark in a prime-time dorama.
— They deserve each other
— Isaac commented, laughing.
— Two stubborn people using fiction to hide what they feel.
Sasha smiled, feeling genuinely happy for her best friend.
— Stella is going to kill him if he tries to hold her hand at the cinema... but she's going to love it.
Afonso, over in the corner, looked up from his notebook for a second and muttered:
— Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic.
But immediately afterward, he went back to looking at Fernanda's post on the forum, with a silly smile he swore nobody was seeing.
The mall cinema was packed for the premiere of "The Scent of First Love," the movie David swore was the masterpiece of the season. For Stella, that was the perfect setting for a disaster: expensive popcorn, noisy teenagers, and David, who looked like he had stepped out of a cheap perfume ad.
He was wearing a slightly open button-down shirt and had put so much gel in his hair that Stella wondered if he wouldn't slide right out of the seat.
— You look ridiculous
— she said, crossing her arms and trying to hide that she had spent thirty minutes choosing which lipstick to wear.
— I call this "protagonist style," Stella.
— David handed her a giant bucket of popcorn.
— I bought sweet and salty. And two large sodas. We're not going hungry today while we analyze the "cinematography" of the film.
The Beginning of the Chaos
As soon as the lights went down, Stella's "technical analysis" plan began to crumble. The movie started with a classic rain scene, and David was already sniffing.
— It's the color composition, Stella... look at that blue... it's so sad
— David whispered, wiping away an imaginary tear.
— David, the movie started three minutes ago! Shut up!
— she whispered back, feeling her face heat up.
In the middle of the movie, in a scene where the protagonists almost kissed in a library (exactly like in one of Stella's favorite fanfics), David decided it was time to act. He slowly stretched his arm across the armrest, trying the classic "yawn and stretch" technique.
The problem? He miscalculated the distance and ended up hitting Stella's straw, sending the liquid splashing straight onto her lap.
— OH MY GOD, STELLA! SORRY!
— David shouted, forgetting they were in a cinema.
— SHHHHHHHH!
— the whole room replied in chorus.
— David, you are a walking disaster!
— Stella hissed, trying to dry her pants with napkins, while he tried to help and ended up just spreading more soda.
The "Dorama" Moment
After the mess, they finally calmed down. The movie was reaching its climax. The piano soundtrack swelled and the couple on screen finally declared their love. Stella, despite all the posing, had watery eyes. She felt a warm hand wrap around hers.
This time, David didn't make any jokes. He just held her hand firmly, fingers intertwined. Stella looked at him out of the corner of her eye; he was staring fixedly at the screen, but his cheeks were flushed.
She didn't pull her hand away. Instead, she leaned her head on his shoulder.
— The cinematography... is acceptable
— she murmured.
— Yeah...
— David replied, his voice wavering with emotion.
— And the script is getting pretty interesting out here too.
The (Un)expected Ending
When the lights came up and the credits rolled, David was in tears, sobbing dramatically as people left the theater.
— WHY DIDN'T THEY END UP TOGETHER, STELLA?! THIS IS A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY!
Stella, who had already composed herself and was laughing at his misery, pulled him by the collar out of the room.
— It's real life, David! Not everything ends with a wedding in Seoul!
— But our story ends with a dinner, doesn't it?
— He stopped crying instantly, giving that lopsided smile she secretly loved.
— Only if you pay. And if you promise never to use that much gel in your hair again.
The "Caught"
As they left the cinema holding hands (even if Stella pretended it was just so he wouldn't get lost), they ran into a familiar figure in the food court: Afonso.
He was sitting alone with a milkshake, staring fixedly at his phone. When he saw the two, he almost choked.
— David? Stella?
— Afonso looked at the held hands and then at David's puffy eyes.
— Let me guess... David cried at the romance movie and Stella is pretending she doesn't like him to maintain her reputation?
David puffed out his chest, pulling Stella closer.
— Envy is an ugly thing, Afonso. Go find your hacker editor and leave us in peace!
Stella gave David a light kick in the shin, but she didn't let go of his hand.
— Let's go, David. Before I change my mind and leave you here with Afonso.
Afonso watched the two walk away, letting out a cynical sigh. But then, a notification glowed on his screen: Nanda_Edit replied to your comment.
The "lone wolf's" heart raced.
— Ok... maybe the script of this world isn't so bad after all.
Dinner after the cinema wasn't at a fancy restaurant, but at a small street-side diner
—the kind Stella loved for being "authentic" and David detested for "triggering his gastritis." The teasing atmosphere continued, but there was a new electricity in the air, something that the spilled soda at the theater hadn't managed to extinguish.
When David parked the car in front of Stella's building, silence finally settled in. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, but the heavy kind, where every breath seems to echo.
— So...
— David began, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. He no longer had a joke ready on the tip of his tongue.
— Does the "technical analysis" end here?
Stella looked at him. The light from the streetlamp filtered through the windshield, accentuating David's jawline and the glint in his eyes. She felt that heat she usually attributed to anger, but she knew it was something else.
— You talk too much, David
— she murmured, her voice lower than usual.
Breaking the Tough Act
Stella leaned forward, closing the space between them. David, who was usually the king of making a move (even if clumsy), froze for a second. He caught her scent
—a mix of drawing ink and vanilla.
— Stella... I...
— David tried to say something funny to break the tension, but Stella's hand moved to the back of his neck, her fingers intertwining in the gel-filled hair she had criticized so much.
— Shut up
— she ordered, but there was no harshness in her tone.
This time, there were no stumbles, no spilled soda, or dorama jokes. The kiss was urgent, a mix of Stella's impatience and David's surprise. It was a kiss that carried months of childish arguments, stolen glances at the coffee shop, and an attraction they both tried to camouflage with sarcasm.
David unbuckled his seatbelt with a sharp movement and pulled her closer, his hand moving up her waist, gripping the leather jacket that was the girl's trademark. Stella let out a sigh against his lips, and the temperature in the car rose instantly.
Between Reality and Fiction
They pulled apart just enough to catch their breath, foreheads resting against each other. Stella's eyes were shining, and the "tough girl" mask had completely fallen, revealing a vulnerability that only Sasha knew.
— That was...
— David began, his voice husky.
— Better than the finale of any tvN dorama.
Stella gave a short laugh but didn't pull away. She traced the outline of his lips with her thumb.
— If you tell Isaac or Valentina that I was nice to you, I'll kill you.
— Your secret is safe with me, boss
— David smiled, that genuine smile that made Stella feel butterflies in her stomach.
— But... I don't think I'll be able to work tomorrow without wanting to kiss you every time you order a cheese bread.
Stella bit her lower lip, a gesture that made David lose his focus for a moment.
— Then you better be fast with the service, because I don't have the patience to wait.
The Awakening
She opened the car door, but before getting out, she gave him one last lingering peck.
— Let me know when you get home, idiot.
David sat still in the car, watching Stella enter the building with her usual determined stride. He leaned his head back against the seat and let out a long sigh, his heart beating in his throat.
Meanwhile, upstairs, Stella leaned her back against the apartment door, her heart racing. She looked at her hands, which were still trembling slightly.
— Damn it, David...
— she whispered to the empty room, with a smile she couldn't hide.
In the corner of the room, the tablet glowed with a notification from Sasha: "How was the date? Did David survive?"
Stella typed back quickly, her cheeks burning: "He survived. But I think I'm in trouble."
Between Roses and the Drama King
The next morning at the coffee shop began with the usual hum of the espresso machine, but the air was charged with a comical sense of anticipation. Isaac and Valentina were already at their posts when the door swung open with a bang.
David walked in as if moving in slow motion, surrounded by imaginary cherry blossom petals. He was wearing a suit (which was clearly tight around the shoulders) and carrying a bouquet of red roses so large it almost hid his face.
— Good morning, world! Good morning, love!
— David exclaimed, using the staged voice of a historical dorama protagonist.
Valentina nearly dropped the cup she was polishing.
— What on earth is this? Has David been replaced by a crown prince, or has he finally lost his mind for good?
Isaac just covered his face with his hand, laughing quietly.
— He took last night's date way too seriously.
Stella's Arrival
At that moment, the door chime rang again. Stella walked in wearing her usual sunglasses, trying to hide the dark circles from a night spent thinking about the kiss in the car. She walked toward the counter without looking sideways, until she ran straight into the "wall of flowers."
David dropped to one knee in the middle of the coffee shop, ignoring the three customers who were drinking their coffee and watching the scene with a mix of confusion and amusement.
— For the woman who draws my happiness with the strokes of her bravery
— David declaimed, holding out the bouquet.
— Stella, accept these roses as proof that our "script" is only just beginning.
The silence that followed was deafening. Stella's face went through three shades of red before hitting a volcanic purple. She slowly took off her sunglasses, revealing eyes that promised a slow and painful death.
— David...
— she sissed, the voice coming through clenched teeth.
— If you don't get up right now and make those flowers disappear in three seconds, I'm going to shove every single one of those roses somewhere the sun doesn't shine.
Chaos Ensues
— Oh, don't be like that, my temperamental queen! — David insisted, trying to give her a "puppy dog look" he had practiced in the mirror.
— I know deep down you're loving this grand gesture. Valentina, isn't it romantic?
Valentina, who never missed an opportunity to stir the pot, leaned over the counter.
— It's the cheesiest thing I've ever seen in my life, David. I love it! Stella, stop being so stubborn, the boy spent half his salary on botany!
At that moment, Afonso entered the shop, looked at David kneeling with the flowers, looked at Stella ready to commit a crime, and let out a deep sigh of disdain.
— Someone give me a black coffee and a manual on how to unsee this scene
— Afonso grumbled, heading to his corner.
— The secondhand embarrassment is draining my social battery and I just got here.
The Heat Rises (Again)
Stella lunged at David, grabbing him by his suit collar and dragging him toward the back storage room, amidst David's whistles and Valentina's laughter.
— Get in here, you idiot!
— she shouted, kicking the storage door shut.
Inside, surrounded by bags of coffee beans and crates of milk, Stella pinned him against the wall.
— Do you want to kill me with embarrassment? Everyone saw! Isaac, Valentina, that weirdo Afonso!
David, despite being "threatened," didn't lose his smile. He dropped the bouquet on the floor and wrapped his arms around Stella's waist.
— They saw a man in love, Stella. And they saw that the toughest girl in town has a soft spot for clumsy baristas.
Stella's anger began to melt under David's intense gaze. The cramped space of the storage room and the strong scent of raw coffee seemed only to intensify what had happened the night before.
— You are an insufferable show-off
— she whispered, but her hands were no longer gripping his collar; they were caressing it.
— And you are my favorite artist
— David replied, leaning in to kiss her with the same urgency as before.
Outside, Isaac, Sasha (who had just arrived), and Valentina pressed their ears against the storage door.
— Are they fighting?
— Sasha asked, worried.
— No
— Valentina replied with a knowing smile.
— Silence in the storage room is always the best sign that the "script" is going very well.
The storage door snapped open five minutes later. Stella came out first, adjusting her leather jacket with aggressive haste, her face redder than the roses left on the floor. David followed right behind, his once-impeccable hair now looking like a bird's nest, sporting a smile so silly he seemed to have forgotten how to close his mouth.
Isaac, Sasha, and Valentina jumped back, pretending to be very busy organizing an imaginary shelf of napkins.
— Not a word
— Stella threatened, pointing a trembling finger at the group.
— If I hear one "ah" or one "how cute," I swear I'll fire Sasha from her own livestream and delete Isaac's channel.
The Disaster Prince
David, completely ignoring the threat, stood in the middle of the room and began straightening his tight suit.
— Valentina, I need a raise
— he said, sighing dramatically.
— Maintaining this level of romance and drama burns a lot of calories. I'm basically a 16-episode dorama protagonist condensed into one morning.
Valentina let out a loud laugh, slapping the counter with her dish towel.
— A raise? You almost killed my best customer with embarrassment and turned my storage room into a soap opera set! If you want a bonus, you're going to have to sweep up the petals you scattered by the entrance.
Afonso, from his dark corner, raised a coffee mug as if toasting to others' misfortune.
— I don't know what's worse: David trying to be Lee Min-ho or Stella trying to pretend she's not in love with a guy who dresses like a best man from a low-budget movie.
Stella's Revenge
Stella walked over to Afonso's table, took one of his cheese breads without asking, and took a fierce bite.
— Afonso, if you don't shut up, I'm going to use those childhood photos your mom sent me to create Lani's new villain. He'll be a grumpy goblin who hates sunlight.
Afonso turned pale and went back to typing furiously on his laptop, muttering something about "abuse of power."
Sasha approached Stella, nudging her with her shoulder.
— So... Isaac's "Owner of the Room" now has a worthy rival in the "Owner of the Storage Room" category?
— Sasha!
— Stella exclaimed, but ended up laughing along with her friend.
— He's an idiot, Sasha. An idiot who buys too many flowers and doesn't know how to park a car without hitting the curb.
— But he kisses well, doesn't he?
— David asked, appearing out of nowhere behind them with two glasses of juice.
Stella took the juice, took a sip, and looked at him over the glass.
— It's acceptable. For a second-rate barista's level.
The New "Normal" at the Coffee Shop
The rest of the morning was controlled chaos. David worked in his suit, serving tables with an exaggerated elegance that made the customers laugh. Stella sat at the counter, drawing on her tablet, but every time David passed her, he left a napkin note with phrases like: "Scene 2: The Barista saves the Artist from boredom with a chocolate muffin."
Isaac and Sasha watched it all, sitting at a table near the window. For the first time, the coffee shop didn't feel like just a place of refuge from the past, but a stage where real life was happening, with all its cheesiness and laughter.
Valentina, seeing her "boys" finally happy, sighed and looked at her own reflection in the espresso machine.
— Well... if David managed to get that stubborn Stella, maybe there's still hope for a 30-year-old coffee shop owner to find her own protagonist. David! Stop posing like a model and go wash the cups! The dorama is over, back to work!
— The dorama never ends, Valentina!
— David shouted from the back, making a heart with his hands for Stella, who stuck her tongue out in response, but with a spark in her eyes that gave it all away.