The familiar chime above the café door rang, pulling Jimin’s attention from where he stood at the counter, arranging some freshly baked pastries. He didn’t need to look up to know it was his mafia brothers who had dropped by—they always had a habit of making an entrance, exuding a confidence and air of authority that made everyone in the room take notice.

Namjoon, Yoongi, Hoseok, Jin, Taehyung, and Jungkook strode in, taking seats around one of the larger tables, each greeting him with a nod. Jimin was used to their impromptu meetings, his café serving as a hub of information and safety for the crew. But today, his attention was split.

Across the room, Rosalia sat by the window, completely absorbed in a book, her fingers wrapped around a warm coffee cup, a soft smile on her lips. Every few moments, she would take a delicate sip or use her fork to break off a piece of the cake he’d served her earlier. Jimin found himself watching her without realizing it, mesmerized by the peaceful aura she exuded. The sight of her felt like a dream—she was here, so close, and yet he still felt like the shy kid who could only admire her from afar.

“So… when are you going to make a move on her?” Jin’s voice broke through his reverie, snapping him back to the reality of the café. He looked over to see his friends all staring at him with amused, knowing expressions.

Jimin flushed slightly, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s… it’s complicated,” he murmured, attempting to brush off the question.

“Complicated?” Taehyung raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair with a teasing grin. “Doesn’t look complicated from here. You’ve been staring at her for, what, the past ten minutes?”

Jimin’s blush deepened, but he couldn’t deny it. He had been watching her, captivated by every small movement. “I knew her back in school,” he admitted quietly, feeling a strange blend of nostalgia and vulnerability as he spoke.

“Oh?” Namjoon leaned forward, clearly interested. “Tell us about her. She must have made a strong impression if you’re still hung up on her after all these years.”

Jimin took a breath, glancing over at Rosalia once more. The memories of their school days came flooding back, each one filled with a mixture of admiration and longing. “She was… different,” he started, his voice soft, almost as if he were sharing a secret. “Rosalia was the most popular girl in school. Everyone adored her.”

A faint smile curved his lips as he remembered those days. “She was the type of person everyone wanted to be friends with or date. She had this way about her… She was always kind, always smiling. And she never looked down on anyone, not even me.”

Hoseok leaned forward, his expression intrigued. “You mean, the shy, chubby Jimin we know was around her, too?”

Jimin nodded, laughing quietly. “Yeah, exactly. I wasn’t exactly the type who drew attention. I was just… there. Quiet, kept to myself. But she was something else. There were rumors that almost every guy in school had a crush on her.”

“Almost every guy?” Jungkook raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Including you?”

Jimin hesitated, glancing down at his hands before nodding. “Yeah. Especially me. But it wasn’t like I was the only one. Valentine’s Day would come around, and her locker would be overflowing with flowers and chocolates. She’d always smile and accept them, even if she had no idea who they were from.”

“Did she ever find out that one of those secret admirers was you?” Yoongi asked, his gaze sharp yet somehow encouraging.

Jimin shook his head, a hint of regret in his eyes. “No. I never told her. I thought it was enough just to be close, to see her happy. She’d walk past me in the hallway, and I’d feel like my whole day was made. But she never really noticed me the way I wanted her to.” He paused, then added softly, “And she never dated anyone, as far as I know. There were rumors, of course, but I don’t think any of them were true.”

Jin scoffed, rolling his eyes. “A girl that popular, and she never dated anyone? I find that hard to believe.”

Jimin shrugged, still staring at Rosalia across the room. “She didn’t seem interested. She was friendly with everyone, but… it was like she kept a part of herself hidden. No one ever got close enough. I remember thinking that maybe she was waiting for someone special. Someone… different.”

Namjoon chuckled, nudging Jimin’s shoulder. “Maybe she was waiting for you.”

Jimin’s cheeks warmed, and he shot his friends a shy smile. “I don’t know. I was just another face in the crowd to her back then. But seeing her again now, it’s like… like that old dream I had might actually have a chance.”

Hoseok grinned, leaning back with a knowing look. “So, what’s stopping you? You’re not that shy kid anymore, Jimin. If anything, you’re the one everyone’s swooning over now.”

Jimin knew his friend was right. Back then, he hadn’t had the courage to approach her. But now, things were different. He’d changed—physically, mentally, and emotionally. The years had transformed him, and he knew he was no longer just a quiet, unassuming presence. But in Rosalia’s presence, he still felt that familiar nervousness, that quiet thrill of being near someone he’d admired for so long.

“She doesn’t know me like that,” he said, his voice filled with a vulnerability he rarely showed. “To her, I’m still that quiet kid she used to pass in the hallways. I don’t want to come on too strong or make her uncomfortable.”

Jungkook snorted, shaking his head. “Hyung, if she’s sitting in your café, reading a book and eating cake that you probably recommended, I don’t think she’d be uncomfortable talking to you.”

Yoongi, always the perceptive one, added, “She’s here. That’s already a good sign. She could have gone to any café, but she chose this one.”

Jimin looked at Rosalia again, feeling a surge of courage bubble up inside him. They were right. She was here, sitting in *his* café, sharing the same space and time after so many years. The universe had given him a second chance, and he wasn’t about to let it slip by.

“Alright,” he said, exhaling a steady breath. “I’ll talk to her. Just… not right now.” He chuckled as his friends groaned in playful frustration. “I want to take things slow. Get to know her all over again.”

Taehyung grinned, leaning forward with a mischievous gleam in his eye. “Fine. But at least tell us what you’re going to say when you finally talk to her. Have you thought that far?”

Jimin smirked, a rare confidence shining in his eyes. “I might just start with a simple question. Something like, ‘Would you like to have coffee with me sometime?’”

His friends exchanged glances, nodding in approval.

“Not bad, Jimin,” Namjoon said with a proud smile. “Simple, direct, and effective. Who knows? Maybe she’ll say yes, and you can finally tell her about the chocolates and flowers.”

Jimin laughed, feeling a weight lift from his chest. “Maybe I will.”

For the rest of their impromptu meeting, he felt a renewed sense of hope, a quiet thrill filling him at the thought of what was to come. As they went over the information they’d come to discuss, his gaze kept drifting back to Rosalia, her presence a comforting reminder of the second chance he’d been given.

When his friends finally left, each of them giving him words of encouragement and playful nudges, he found himself lingering behind the counter, watching her as she finished her coffee and set down her book, lost in thought.

She hadn’t seen him yet—not really. But soon, he would change that. And this time, he was ready to be more than just the boy who admired her from afar. He was ready to be the man who could finally give her the love he’d always dreamed of sharing.