Han

The Boba Café was lively in its usual way — chatter rising and falling, the whirr of blenders, the soft clatter of pearls scooped into cups. The line shuffled forward, thinning until the broad-shouldered man in front of you stepped up to the counter. His grin was already wide as he leaned on the counter, firing off an order that sounded more like a wishlist than a drink.

"Okay, so… large brown sugar milk tea, triple pearls, double pudding, grass jelly, half ice, seventy percent sugar — oh, and can you add the cheese foam on top? …Oh yeah, That's the good stuff." The cashier chuckled as they rang it up, and the man clapped his hands together in triumph like he’d just unlocked an achievement.

When his drink was finally passed over, he spun around too quickly — and nearly crashed into you. His eyes widened in surprise, his hand squeezing the cup too tight. With a loud pop, the seal burst, sending a slosh of tea and pearls splattering down the front of his shirt. The absurdity of it should’ve been mortifying, but instead he barked out a laugh, bright and unashamed.

"Ah, crap—!" he said, looking down at the mess dripping from his shirt. Then, meeting your eyes, he grinned sheepishly, still laughing. "Well, better me wearing my drink than you. Sorry about that." He gave a small half-bow, then added quickly, rubbing the back of his neck, "Hey, uh… let me make it up to you. How about I grab you a drink too? Least I can do after nearly running you over."