After a couple of years have gone by, Kibum, who was now 14, was walking down the streets with his friends after school. With his headphones hung around his neck, his head nodded to Dong Bang Shin Ki’s new song Rising Sun. There were SM auditions being held soon and his umma had been nagging him for a while to go try out. It wasn’t like he was dying to become an idol. It would be nice and everything but it wasn’t anything which was a big deal to him. He was good at dancing for sure and was an amazing varisty water skier at Dae Gu Young Shin Middle School. Therefore, he was fine with the way his life was right now, but if trying out for the auditions would stop his umma’s nagging then he’ll do it.

“Come drop by our bakery! Today is the grand opening!” A girl wearing her work uniform yelled out to crowds walking by. She had a long pony tail tied up with her pink apron on while she held out a sign which read ‘Grand Opening to Pretty Pastries’.

“Hi there! Why don’t you go in and try one of our freshly baked egg tarts?” the girl said to one of Kibum’s friends. The girl spoke with a strong American accent.‘Must be a foreigner’ he thought.

When he saw that some of them were actually sweet talked into walking into the bakery, he looked up and stared at the girl with irritated cold eyes. Kibum’s always been seen as a scary and mean person, which he could be. He never said he was a nice guy. He watched the girl as she talked happily with his friends who were obviously hitting on her. Either she likes the attention or she’s just stupid.

“Would you like to try some of our freshly made croissants? They’re fresh from the oven,” she said turning to look at him with a bright smile and gleaming eyes. Kibum stared at her wide-eyed, surprised that she was completely unaware of the fact he’d been glaring at her for the past minute. Instead, a warm familiar feeling washed over him as he continued to look at the girl. The more she smiled, the more he felt like he knew her.

“Oppa let’s go!” his dongsaeng pulled on his arm, causing him to finally look away. Obviously she was jealous that all the guys were flirting with this random girl rather than her. When his friends finally came out, he shot them a look which said ‘You done wasting time yet?’ before walking away with the younger female clinging onto his arm. His friends looked at each other and quickly followed while shortly waving to the worker.

“Thank you! Please come again!” she called out behind them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For the rest of the week, Kibum’s been practicing hard for the upcoming SM auditions which were being held in Seoul. However, aside from practicing he’s been trying to catch a few more glances at the worker at the bakery shop. No it wasn’t because he had a crush on her, it’s just he really liked the familiar feeling she gave off. But every time he walks by, he never sees her! He had even walked in the bakery and bought a few pieces of cake hoping he might see her at the back, but no luck. Perhaps she had gotten fired for flirting with the customers?

It wasn’t long before SM auditions were finally here, he danced hard in front of the audition staffs giving his best shot. When the results were being made, Kibum was so nervous he could almost feel his heart jump out of his chest besides from dancing so hard. He felt his heart drop when his he heard his name being called. His mouth agape, he looked around and pinched his cheeks to make sure it wasn’t a dream. It had been a long day of waiting, practicing, waiting some more, sweating, dancing, and more waiting but in the end, it was all worth it. After the results, the people from SM said they would contact him the following day to let him know about the beginning of his trainee days.

Excitement filled him as he left the building. It was already 9 p.m. by the time he got back to Daegu. From the subway station and back home, he would pass by the bakery shop. “Maybe I’ll buy a cake to take home and let umma know about the good news,” he thought outloud and once again his thoughts were brought back to the bakery girl he saw that one time. ‘Aish! Who cares about her, there are plenty of pretty girls out there. It’s not like me to get caught up with one I don’t even know,’ he thought to himself.

Finally stopping by, he saw that the bakery door had already been closed and locked even though the lights were still on. A bit disappointed, he stood outside peeking into the store, gazing at the cake.

On the inside of the shop, a certain bakery girl was just finishing wiping the counter tops in the kitchen and ready to leave before she turned around and saw a creepy man staring into the shop. She screamed and took a step back. The scream was heard from outside the shop, scaring even Kibum a bit. He looked at the bakery girl and his jaw dropped. Could his day get any better. When he saw her pick up a rolling pin and hold it up looking like she was threatening him, he finally realized what a creep he looked like. Stepping away from the glass with his hands up, he pointed at the cake and said the words out slowly hoping she would be able to read his lips. “Buuuuyyyyy. Caaakeeeee.”

People who were walking by gave him a funny look but at that moment he didn’t really care. He just wanted to buy a cake. And of course talk to this bakery girl he’s been thinking about too much. Finally, she put the rolling pin down and figured out all he wanted was to buy cake. Quickly moving around the counter, she opened the door for him. “Sorry about that! But we’re closed!”

“Pretty please?? It’ll be fast! My friends bought a bunch of buns from here last time! Please? It’s for my umma,” he pouted giving her his best puppy eyes.

“Oh! I remember you! If it’s for your umma then alright! My boss won’t mind having another cake sold,” she giggled, as she moved to let him walk into the store.

After taking a quick look at the cakes he decided on a small chocolate mousse cake. He waited patiently by the cash register while she packed the cake in a small box.

“Here you go.” She tied a hot pink ribbon on the box and pushed it forward to him on the counter “That will be 8750 won.”

He handed her a 10000 bill, took the change and box and turned to go.

“Please come again,” she said as she watched him make his leave.

With one hand on the door he paused to think for a second. ‘Wait a minute. I still didn’t ask her for her name. It’s now or never.’

Turning his head he asked, “I was just wondering but have I seen you somewhere?”

“You mean from last time?”

“No. I mean before that.”

She cocked her head looking at him questionably. “I just moved to Korea from L.A. this summer.”

“You just reminded me of someone but I can’t seem to figure out who…” he thought for a while. ‘Crap. She probably thinks I’m trying to pick her up by pretending I knew her from before.’

“Perhaps you got the wrong person?” she laughed lightly. It was then that Kibum remembered her.

“Nick? Nicole? JUNG NICOLE?”

“Wow! How’d you know my name! I’m not even wearing my name tag! Ajusshi are you psychic?” she clapped her hands together in amazement. Kibum couldn’t help but laugh at her actions and the fact that she just called him an ajusshi.

“You’ve changed so much,” he chuckled. What happened to the shy and quiet girl he met overseas?
“Excuse me? Are you a stalker?!” she said horrified.

“I can’t believe you’re Nicole! Don’t you remember me? Kibum the exchange student?”

“Kibum…? No?” she scratched her head trying to remember.

“Kibum the boy who made you do the science scrapbook all by yourself when you were in gr.6?!”

“Oh my god!” she said in English and pointing a finger “I REMEMBER YOU NOW!”

He laughed and then realized he still had a cake in his hand and his mother was waiting for him at home. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his cellphone, holding it out to her. “Here give me your number.”

“Sure!” she said walking over and taking the phone from him. Did she always give out her number to guys so easily? Punching in her number she clicked save and handed him back his phone.

“We can talk some other time! My umma’s waiting for this,” he said holding up the cake. “You should go home soon. It’s already dark. Do you want me to walk you? Where do you live?”

“Oh no it’s alright,” she said shaking her hands, “I…um… my sister’s picking me up!”

“Okay then! Bye!” he waved at her and left. Nicole was left standing there a bit shocked that he would run into Kibum the exchange student after 3 years. If she remembered correctly, she did write that maybe they’ll see each other in the future but she didn’t think there would be any chances of that happening. She quickly turned off the lights in the store and locked it up before going to take the subway back to Seoul where her mother lived. She didn’t have a sister but of course Ki didn’t know that. She had to go to school first thing in the morning and had to go straight to the DSP headquarters afterwards. She groaned to herself on the subway, ‘Maybe I should tell my imo that I don’t have time to help at the bakery anymore.’

Plugging her ears, she listened to her mp3 for the rest of the 30 minute ride while thinking about Kibum. He still had the same cold and mean face but he seemed to be really nice. At least he was nice enough to offer to walk her home? If she wasn’t a trainee she would’ve accepted but having him find out she was a DSP trainee wasn’t exactly what she wanted after meeting him again after 3 years. She had the fear that he would only want to talk to her because she was a trainee and had the possibly of becoming an idol. Maybe after she got to know him a bit better, she’ll tell him. Just as she got off the subway, she got a text message.

To: Nicole

Yah Nicole! Don’t call me ajusshi ever again! Hope you got home safely!

-Kibum

Quickly she saved the number to her phone and texted back letting him know she was fine. Watching the text send she smiled to herself knowing she made a new friend in Korea. Perhaps she wouldn’t be so lonely after all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The whole way home, Kibum couldn’t help but smile to himself. He couldn’t believe that in 3 years, the book worm of the class turned into such a cute and pretty girl, not that she wasn’t pretty before. But she was just prettier now that she’s matured a bit. Her hair has become longer and she’s gotten it permed straight so it wasn’t the small natural waves like before. She looked so cute in that apron. He was stupid enough to not remember that smile from gr.6. Who could possibly have had such a sweet smile besides her.

“Umma! I’m home!” he called out, stepping into the house. His umma’s head popped out from the kitchen. “And I brought cake too! Chocolate mousse! Your favourite.”

“Aigoo! My dear Kibum is so sweet,” she gushed, kissing her son’s cheeks.

“Aish! Umma! You’re getting my face all wet,” he said wiping his cheeks.

“Your umma was up waiting for you! How’d it go?” the two of them walked into the kitchen and put the cake down on the kitchen table. Kibum’s eyes frowned with the rest of his face, not saying a word. His umma saw this and assumed it wasn’t good news. She pulled him into a hug and said, “Aigoo. It’s okay. Kibum will always be the best in your umma’s eyes.”

“Umma I made it,” he mumbled against her shoulder.

“What’d you say?” she said, pushing him away thinking that she didn’t hear him right.

“I said I made it!” he bursted out with the biggest grin on his face and kissing his umma on the cheek.

“You fooled your umma just now! You’re not joking again are you?”

“No!” He watched as his mom started to tear up from happiness while saying all these things about how proud of her son she was. Hugging his umma, he felt himself begin to tear up from happiness too. This was all like a dream. ‘This was the best day of my life!’ he told himself.

Sititing at the dinner table, the two of them talked about his audition and what’s going to happen next as they ate their cake together. When they finished, he rushed his mother off to bed knowing that she was tired from waiting from him and stressing about how his audition went for the whole day. Laying on his bed, he looked at his phone and decided to text Nicole to make sure she got home safely.

He laid there thinking about the excitement of becoming a trainee. He knew it meant working really hard but the hard work will eventually pay off when he becomes an idol. Nothing could be better than performing, dressing in nice clothes, meeting other celebrities and being loved by fans. He smiled to himself thinking about the possibilities in the future. Hopping off his bed, he went to take a shower and got ready for bed. He’s going to need the energy for tomorrow.