Mi- Young claps joyfully and instructs Kyubok on how to cut the cake. All five of us are given a slice and we begin to eat a birthday cake at 10 something in the morning.
This cake tastes like any other cake we have here at the café. Oh well. It makes her happy to spend 100 dollars on her cake, so I guess it's fine.
"Hey." Soo-Yun whispers.
"Yeah?"
"Why did she spend 100 dollars on this? It's decorated less intricately than the cakes here, and it tastes really similarly to our cakes too."
"I think she was buying it for the brand. Also, don't try to understand her logic. You'll probably go insane." I wink.
Soo-Yun nods and stifles a laugh.
"Everyone, we will be opening in five minutes, so why don't we stick this in the fridge or something and get ready for customers." I say watching the time.
"Good idea!" The manager says.
"It's your job to say things like that." Myung-Dae sighs.
"Really?" Mi-Young asks wide eyed. "I think she did it just fine."
"Never mind." He fakes a smile.
We all complete our tasks and open the café for the day.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
The bell at the door indicating that someone has walked through the door chimes. I look up from behind the cash register.
The customer is a man who stands about six feet tall and has a very nice build. He is wearing a basic black suit with a black tie. He seems like any other guy, except for the fact that he is wearing sunglasses inside a building.
"Oso oseyo!" The five of us employees say in unison.
I hear Soo-Yun snicker behind me. She walks up to Kyubok and whispers, "What's it like to be the inferior male?"
Kyubok doesn't skip a beat. "So you think I'm a superior male every other day?"
"No idiot." She hits him on his shoulder. "I just called you inferior. Ugly. Weak."
Kyubok winces and says, "Seriously. If I wasn't a gentleman, and if you weren't a girl, I would have kicked your ass and put you in your place a long time ago."
"Ha! Like you could ever beat me."
"Wanna bet?"
"Try me."
"Guys." I snap. "We have a customer."
They lower their heads. "Sorry."
"It's fine. Just save it for later."
The customer orders a single americano and goes to sit at a table directly across from the cash register/counter area.
Odd choice of seat..
My thoughts are interrupted by the flow of customers that enter behind him. For the next couple hours, the five of us employees are busy serving, making drinks, and cleaning up after customers.
During my first break of the day, I sit at a table in the corner of the café and watch the music video for the song Kick It by NCT 127, the song that Kyubok was singing earlier this morning.
This is actually pretty catchy. I kinda like it. Maybe I should ask Kyubok for music recommendations.
"Eonnie.." Soo-Yun says walking up to me.
I look up from the video.
"Yeah?"
"The guy who came in earlier this morning is staring at you."
"Soo-Yun-ah. He's wearing sunglasses. How can you tell that he's staring at me?"
"I know he's wearing sunglasses. But his head turns and follows you wherever you go."
"Yeah right." I laugh. "Don't scare me like that."
She looks at me with worried eyes.
"Just be careful okay? Have one of the boys walk you home tonight."
I nod. She doesn't know who I used to be, and I have no intention of telling her. So, I agree with her just to make her feel better.
I'll be okay even without them.
"I wonder if that's a good thing... " I laugh scornfully to myself.
Actually, I noticed that the man was watching me a while ago. It's a skill I picked up during the Hallyu part of my life. The man has been here since our opening hour and has been sipping on the same americano the whole time.
There's a few hours until closing, so I'll just keep watching him for now.
But, how do I have enemies here? Does the Korea branch have their eye on me after all this time?
No… Don't think like that. The past is in the past. It should stay there.
"Himnae*." I whisper to myself.
I stand up and stretch. We get off work early today, so I planned a personal care evening for myself. I've never had a personal care day before, so I am extremely excited.