The Secret Recipe

It was a lazy afternoon, the kind where time moved slower. The café had settled into a lull, the rush of morning customers long gone, leaving only the soft hum of the ceiling fan and the distant crash of waves against the shore. The air smelled of freshly ground coffee beans and warm vanilla, wrapping the space in a comforting stillness.

Gemini sat at his usual spot by the counter, arms folded as he watched Fourth move behind the bar. There was something hypnotic about the way he worked—each movement precise, every motion practiced. He never rushed, never hesitated, as if the act of making coffee was second nature to him.

"Teach me," Gemini said suddenly.

Fourth glanced up, raising an eyebrow. "Teach you what?"

"How to make coffee. A good one."

Fourth's expression remained skeptical. "You don't even cook."

"That's why I need a good teacher," Gemini shot back with a grin. "Come on, I've been here long enough. I should at least learn something."

Fourth sighed, placing the milk frother down. "Fine. But if you mess up, you're cleaning it."

Gemini immediately sat up straighter. "Yes, sir! คร้าบผม! (Khráp Phǒm!)" He even threw in a mock salute for good measure.

Fourth rolled his eyes but tossed an apron at him anyway.

Gemini tied it around his waist, stepping behind the counter. He had never really paid attention to the details before. He just drank the coffee—never thought about what went into making it. But now, standing here, everything seemed more complicated. There were buttons, levers, different types of beans. Fourth made it look easy.

"Alright," Fourth began, pulling out a small bag of coffee grounds. "Start by measuring the espresso shot."

Gemini followed his lead, scooping the coffee into the portafilter. He pressed it down the way Fourth showed him, locking it into the machine. When he pressed the button, a stream of deep brown liquid poured into the cup.

"Not bad," Fourth said, inspecting it.

Gemini smirked. "Told you I'd be a natural."

Fourth handed him a small carton of milk. "Now, steam this."

That's when everything went wrong.

The first attempt resulted in way too much sugar. The second attempt was so bitter that Fourth nearly choked when he took a sip. By the third, Gemini had somehow managed to make the milk overflow, spilling onto the counter.

Fourth exhaled, wiping his hands on a cloth. "You might be the worst student I've ever had."

Gemini groaned, dramatically dropping his head onto the counter. "I think I'm just naturally bad at this."

Fourth shook his head, then—without thinking—reached for Gemini's hand. "Here. Let me show you."

Gemini stilled.

Fourth positioned his fingers over the espresso machine's handle, guiding him through the motions. Their hands overlapped—warm, steady. Fourth's touch was gentle but firm, his fingers lightly pressing against Gemini's.

"Hold it like this," Fourth murmured, his voice quieter than usual.

Gemini barely registered the words. His mind had gone blank, focusing only on the warmth of Fourth's hand against his own.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Gemini's heart did an odd little flip.

The café suddenly felt smaller, the space between them almost nonexistent. Fourth was so close that Gemini could see the tiny flecks of brown in his eyes, the soft rise and fall of his breath.

Then, as quickly as it happened, Fourth pulled away. He cleared his throat, stepping back. "Try again."

Gemini blinked, still feeling the ghost of Fourth's touch against his skin.

His fingers curled slightly, as if trying to hold onto the moment.

He took a breath, focusing back on the coffee. This time, he followed Fourth's guidance more carefully. When he was finished, Fourth took a sip, tilting his head in consideration.

"Hmm."

Gemini leaned forward. "Well?"

Fourth gave a small nod. "Not terrible."

Gemini grinned. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Fourth turned, placing the cup down. His expression was unreadable, but there was a slight softness in his gaze. Something unspoken lingered between them.

Gemini exhaled, staring at the cup he had made.

Strangely enough, learning to make coffee wasn't the most important thing anymore.

Not when his heartbeat was still slightly unsteady.

And definitely not when all he could think about was Fourth's hand resting against his own.

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