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Leaning in closer to the oven, I watched as the three batches of cupcakes I had carefully placed inside began to rise slowly. A contented smile spread across my face as I reached out for the cloth resting on the nearby side table.
"Jisoo?!" Jennie's voice cut through the air, startling me. "What are you still doing here? I thought you were going to your father's house today." Quickly regaining my composure, I flashed her a smile in return.
"..."
"I will go tomorrow! I just called him a while ago to let him know I'm still busy at the bakery," I replied, making my way to the other side of the room to grab the piping bag. Turning to my left, I began filling it with strawberry frosting. Folding the top half down over my hand to open it up, I held the bag in the middle and used a spatula to scoop the filling and place it in the bottom of the piping bag.
"Jisoo? But... This is the fourth time this month that you have postponed it. Why are you doing this to him?" Jennie's question hung in the air, but I avoided turning to face her. I knew she would be able to read the conflict in my eyes if I met her gaze.
"Jennie... please! I really don't have time for this. I have an order of 24 cupcakes that needs to be completed by eleven," I muttered nervously, scraping the excess filling off the spatula against the side of the bag. I continued to avoid facing her, knowing that she knows me better than I know myself.
"KIM JISOO! What is really going on? Spill it now!" I heard her high-pitched voice, filled with a mix of frustration and concern. Jennie always sounded furious when I kept my worries and struggles to myself. She was my rock, my confidante, the one I turned to for guidance and strength in times of need. But sometimes, I couldn't shake the feeling that I had already burdened her too much with my problems.
"Jennie... it's nothing," I mumbled, twisting the top of the bag to start decorating the cupcakes. But this time, she didn't have much patience for my evasiveness.
"What's the matter?!" Jennie exclaimed, catching me off guard with her sudden closeness and firm grip on my shoulders. She locked eyes with me, searching for answers. Feeling overwhelmed, I quickly averted my gaze to the other side of the room.
"I'm... I'm afraid! There, that's what you wanted to hear?" I responded, taking a step back to create some distance between us. In an instant, I caught a glimpse of Jennie's mouth curling into a soft, tender smile that I had seen before.
"Jisoo... afraid of what? Your father loves you! I can't think of a better father than him. Why are you so afraid of paying him a visit?" Jennie's gentle voice reached me as she leaned against the table behind her. I shrugged slightly, offering a small smile in return, unsure of how to respond. The fear I harbored towards seeing my father had been a lingering presence within me for some time now, but I couldn't quite pinpoint its origin. I glanced over at Jennie and noticed her shaking her head slightly, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Very well... I won't ask you more questions, since I see that you just don't know either why you don't want to go!" With those words, I watched as Jennie made her way back to the front of the bakery. Breathing a sigh of relief, I returned to my previous spot, ready to prepare everything for the cupcakes that were still in the oven.
Once I finished decorating the cupcakes and placing them in boxes, I made my way through the corridors to reach the front of the bakery. Spotting a woman in need of assistance with purchasing a cake, I hurried over to lend a hand.
"I'm so glad there's still a red velvet cake in the display fridge. My phone died halfway down the road, so I couldn't reserve any..." the woman exclaimed with a wide smile, radiating happiness. I quickly nodded in response, happy to have been able to help her.
"Oh... I see... Do you want me to pack it up for you?" I asked with a smile, feeling pleased when customers showed interest in my cakes and pastries.
"Oh yes, please! My mother just came from abroad, and I really wanted her to taste your red velvet cake. Your bakery is one of the many places that represent our city! The best bakery in town!" I heard her say as I gently closed the cake box. A smile spread across my face, feeling proud and gratified by her words. Working tirelessly to be the best had paid off, and hearing such praise from a customer reaffirmed that my efforts were indeed worthwhile and effective.
"Thank you so much for your kind words! I truly appreciate your support for my bakery," I told her, taking the money for the cake.
"I truly mean it! Bye... and have a good day!" She said as she made her way towards the exit, leaving me with a warm feeling in my heart.
"Thank you... have a nice day!" I called out as the woman left. Watching her car disappear from the parking spot in front of the bakery, I couldn't help but smile. Just as I was about to turn to the beverage fridge, the sound of the bakery door opening caught my attention. I stopped in my tracks, focusing my eyes on the person who had just entered.
"Hi! Good morning... I came to fetch the cupcakes I ordered yesterday," the man said with a smile as he approached me. Instantly returning his smile, I replied, "Ah... yes, one moment!" I quickly retrieved the two boxes of cupcakes from the table beside the counter.
"It would be 94,000.00 Won," I said as I typed the amount into the register. However, I soon noticed that the man was looking back at me in a peculiar way, almost as if he were studying my features.
"Sir?" I spoke up in slight confusion at his stares, but that didn't deter him from continuing to look at me intently.
"Wait... it's just that... I feel like I know you! Almost like... I have seen you before! You remind me of someone but... but I can't remember who!" he exclaimed, leaving me feeling uncomfortable under his penetrating gaze.
"I'm sorry... but... I don't know you! I have never seen you before!" I replied, feeling a bit perplexed. I kept my eyes on him for a moment until I noticed him avert his gaze to the box of cupcakes on the counter.
"My bad! I must be mistaken! But something tells me that I do know you! Can I know your name?" he said out of the blue, surprising me. My eyes flickered in surprise at his assertion that he knew me, but I was certain I didn't know him from anywhere.
"Is he perhaps flirting with me?" I pondered after he asked for my name. His sudden and bold approach seemed like a flirtatious gesture, and I couldn't help but be impressed by his confidence.
"Ehmmmmm... I... I'm... I'm... Ji..." I struggled to get the words out, but was interrupted by Jennie, who had wide eyes and was holding my phone.
"What's wrong?" I asked her, noticing her worried expression.
"It's JongSuk, again! Something happened with him at school... Quickly, the teacher is on the phone!" Jennie explained urgently as she handed me the phone. My heart raced with worry as I took the call from the teacher. In the midst of the conversation, I caught a glimpse of Jennie helping the man from earlier. I couldn't quite figure out what he was up to, as he continued to gaze in my direction.
"Jennie... I have to go. Please take care of the bakery for me!" I exclaimed hastily as I removed my apron. Grabbing my bag, I rushed out of the bakery. Despite my urgency, the unease stirred by the man lingered, his intense gaze refusing to release its hold on me.
