In the dimly lit corners of his cozy café, Jimin had always found solace. The soft aroma of freshly baked bread and brewed coffee was a comforting constant amidst his double life. To his patrons, he was the quiet, friendly café owner who took pride in his craft, serving pastries with shy smiles. But beneath that gentle demeanor lay the leader of a mafia operation, working in the shadows to keep his organization in check. Every espresso served and every pastry baked was a front, concealing his vigilant watch over rival groups and the occasional gathering of information from unwitting guests.

Today, though, the café felt different. It wasn’t the scent of coffee or the hum of conversation that struck Jimin, but the quiet, breathtaking sight of a familiar figure walking through the door. Rosalia. His heart skipped, a buried memory coming to life. She had grown into a vision of elegance, her soft brown curls framing her face, her eyes—always so expressive—focused on something as she walked to her usual corner booth, setting up her laptop with the same quiet focus she’d had back in high school.

Jimin could barely breathe. This was the girl he had admired from afar in his school days, the one who had made him dream of things beyond his reach, beyond the cold calculations of mafia strategy. She was his first crush, and even though he had pushed those feelings away, they had never truly left. Now, seeing her so close, his heart beat with a familiar ache, a yearning he’d long since buried.

With careful movements, he positioned himself behind the counter, where he could watch her without being too obvious. Rosalia was as graceful as he remembered, her hands moving swiftly over the keyboard, her brow slightly furrowed in concentration. He wondered what she was working on, what her life had become since those innocent school days. Had she achieved her dreams? Did she even remember him?

He had always been too shy to approach her back then, and today felt no different. Jimin’s hands shook slightly as he polished a cup, his mind torn between stepping up to her table and remaining in the shadows. A part of him scolded himself for letting old feelings resurface; he was no longer the awkward schoolboy he once was. He was a man who wielded power and commanded respect. Yet, when he looked at Rosalia, all that strength seemed to melt away, leaving him vulnerable in a way he hadn’t felt in years.

As he mulled over his feelings, a waitress named Minji came to the counter, noticing the way Jimin’s gaze lingered on the woman in the corner. “Do you know her?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder toward Rosalia. Her question brought Jimin back to the present, and he quickly looked away, his cheeks warming.

“No,” he replied, a little too quickly. “She just… looks familiar.”

Minji gave him a knowing smile. “She’s beautiful,” she said casually before walking away to tend to other customers, leaving Jimin standing there, trying to focus on anything else.

With a deep breath, he resolved to keep his emotions under control. He told himself he was just being nostalgic. Seeing an old crush after so many years was bound to stir something up, right? But as the minutes passed, he found himself unable to keep his attention away from her. Every detail was fascinating—the way her lips curved in a subtle smile when she read something on her screen, the way she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, the delicate way she sipped her coffee.

It took all his self-control to stay behind the counter, rooted to his place as he observed her from afar. He knew the rules, the boundaries he’d set for himself long ago. He couldn’t let his personal life interfere with his business, especially not with his more dangerous pursuits. Allowing himself to indulge in this longing, even for a moment, felt like a risk. But she had always been his weakness, and today, that weakness was sitting just a few feet away, looking as beautiful as ever.

The rest of the café was a blur, the customers coming and going unnoticed as Jimin remained transfixed. The old memories came flooding back, each one more bittersweet than the last. The stolen glances, the lingering stares in the school hallways, the times he’d tried to muster up the courage to talk to her and failed. She had been the one thing he’d always wanted but never had, the girl who made his heart race and his mind lose its composure. And now, here she was, close enough to touch but still out of reach.

For the first time in a long time, he felt the urge to break his own rules. He wanted to go to her, to reintroduce himself, to see if she remembered him. But fear held him back. What if she didn’t remember him? Or worse, what if she did, but saw him as nothing more than the quiet boy he used to be? He was different now, hardened by the realities of his life, and he wasn’t sure if that was someone she could ever accept.

The minutes ticked by, and Rosalia continued her work, oblivious to the turmoil she was causing in Jimin’s heart. He felt a pang of regret, a sense of loss for the years they had spent apart, the unspoken words that had faded into the past. He wondered what his life might have been like if he had been brave enough to speak to her back then, if he had taken that leap instead of letting his fear hold him back.

Eventually, Rosalia closed her laptop and gathered her belongings, preparing to leave. Jimin’s heart sank, a sharp, aching disappointment settling in his chest. He wanted to call out to her, to stop her somehow, but his voice remained silent. He watched as she stood, slinging her bag over her shoulder, giving the café one last glance before making her way to the door.

And then, for just a brief moment, her gaze landed on him. Their eyes met, and a spark of recognition flashed in her expression. She tilted her head slightly, as if trying to place him, a small smile playing at the corner of her lips. Jimin’s heart pounded, his breath catching in his throat. It was a fleeting connection, just a second, but it was enough to rekindle every emotion he’d buried.

Before he could say anything, she turned and walked out, leaving him standing there, his heart racing and his mind reeling. The café felt empty without her, the warmth she’d brought with her presence fading as the door closed behind her. He knew he had missed his chance, but for the first time in a long time, he felt a glimmer of hope. She had recognized him, if only for a moment, and that was enough to remind him that the past wasn’t as far away as he’d thought.

As he watched her disappear down the street, he made a silent promise to himself. The next time she came in, he wouldn’t let fear hold him back. He would take that chance, no matter how much it terrified him. Because seeing her again had reminded him of one simple truth—some things were worth risking everything for. And Rosalia was one of those things.