To You ➟ KTH

Baking

May 12
Friday
Year 1

Karin screams when the icing in her piping bag bursts her way.

I squeeze my eyes shut as some spray on my face.

With a sigh, Jiyoo picks up a rag to offer it to Karin (almost like Karin's clumsiness is a daily occurrence).

Karin breaks into giggles, wipes the icing off her cheek and reaches to put it on my nose. "Sorry, Seolli~"

I smile wide, scrunching my nose. "I feel more sorry..." Karin mixed for ten minutes and quite a bit was missing now.

But she'll be able to whip up more easily.

Karin's an expert at baking. Her family's occupations lie in pastries or restaurants. Her grandma even has a food stall of her own. It makes me think they're a super close family, each celebration filled with tasty food and laughs that come from the belly.

Today, Karin invited us over to decorate cupcakes. She revealed that she actually wanted to make one for Jin in hopes that he'd seriously ask her out. It's no secret that he likes her in the same way, but Karin's hoping for something official to happen.

"Decorating the cupcake is stressing me out..." Karin huffs, rubbing her hands over her face, leaving her bangs sticking up everywhere.

I smile at her cuteness, wiping my nose free from icing.

"Don't. Would he even look at it before the entire thing is down his throat?" Jiyoo leans into her hand.

Karin gives her a look. "Okay but, I'll let my family down if it looks no better than my younger brother did it. Then, Grandma would fix it and the cupcake 100% wouldn't be from me."

"U-um..." I find the courage to add in, "I think that if you try your best, there's no way it'll not turn out cute."

Because she's cute!

She takes a deep breath and nods. "Thank you, Seoll."

I sit up straighter at the familiar nickname. Seoll.

"She's right... I mean you do your own nails all pretty. How different is a cake?"

She gasps and wraps her arms around Jiyoo's neck. "You just gave me the greatest idea! Thank you, thank you! I'll have it match my nails."

With a squeal she gets to work. Jiyoo glances my way and smiles a little before opening up several food coloring bottles to take off the foil.

"Karin's like this every time. As much as it's too much, I have to admit everything tastes so freaking good."

"Aw, nooo~" Karin pretends to act shy before elbowing Jiyoo. "Now tell her about my banana cake."

Jiyoo rolls her eyes playfully. "When your birthday comes around, she'll make you the best banana roll cake of your life. Even if you don't like sweets, you'll beg to have some."

"I'm amazing, aren't I?" Karin confidently agrees. "When's your birthday, Seoll?"

"The 22nd."

"Of..?"

"T-this month." I fidget with my necklace.

Karin stops and places her palms on the table, jaw open. "For real?!"

I bite my lip and nod.

"Ooh - Good thing I asked! I'm bringing you my special cake."

She sticks her tongue out at me and I think about the millions of ways I could thank her for going out of her way to do that for me. A cake. A special cake for my birthday.

I interlock my fingers to help me, squeezing them together. "Thank you for thinking about me!"

"Of course!"

Happily, I get off my stool to attempt clean up a little.

She grabs my wrist. "Oh no you don't! I made lots of cupcakes. Let's all decorate together."

I bite back a giggle and let her guide me back down to my seat.

"You know, they say... if you make something sweet while having the person you like in mind, and you put all your feelings of them into what you make... your feelings will reach them when they eat it." She puts a cupcake in front of me and Jiyoo.

"Both of you. Pick up your cupcake and close your eyes."

We listen to her directions.

"Perfect, now imagine your most important person."

I snap my eyes open when Taehyung comes to mind.

It's okay to make it if I'm only doing it as thanks, right?

Jiyoo looks over at me and I look down at the table guilty.

Jiyoo sets down her cupcake. "I'm making Taehyung one."

I flinch when his name comes out of her mouth.

Karin looks over at me, waiting in anticipation.

"I-I'm making one for... Jimin."

So everyone can have one and feel special.

Jiyoo tilts her head. "Oh... Jimin?"

Karin smiles at her before reaching over to lay her hand over my hand. "Good luck!"

I slowly nod.

"Alright, I'm setting a timer for us to focus." She sets it up on her phone and we all carefully decorate the cupcakes.

In the end, I chose blue icing and sprinkled mine with gummy bears and marshmallows. It reminds me of Jimin and I'm hoping he can feel how thankful I am for being one of my friends.

"One of" because now I have more. How lucky am I to be making memories like this?

When I see Jiyoo's pink cupcake full of hearts and pearls, I try to avoid the sinking feeling, knowing who it's for.

After all, Taehyung has a right to know about how much Jiyoo cares about him.

Because he deserves it.

Because he should feel how she feels.

So why is my heart beating so anxiously?

What am I afraid of?

I hold in my breath and wonder how tomorrow will turn out.