Joong-ki helped me out a lot.  After he’s done copying the notes, he helped translating them for me.  He translated them in English, I write down what he said.  He’s not as uptight as I thought he would be.  He’s kinda friendly.  If he’s not, then why would he help me?  Maybe I can do the same with the rest of my classmates.  Be friends with them like how I am friends with Joong-ki. 

Since it’s a sunny Sunday, I decide to take a stroll.  I walk around my neighbourhood with the help of my GPS.  If I don’t take this with me, I might get lost.  I’m getting thirsty from all this walking.  I should look for a café.  I tap the screen of my GPS.  The screen is pitch-black.  I tap it again.  Nothing comes out.

“Oh, come on!  How am I gonna find my way back?” I moan. 

I should’ve charged it fully last night.  I groan.  I take a seat on a bench by a tree.  I have no idea where I am.  It’s like rows of shops and stores.  I should just walk and see this place for myself.  Who needs a GPS?  I get up from the bench and put my GPS in my bag.  I keep on walking.  I don’t know where I am.  I don’t think that’ll be a problem.  If I get lost, I can simply call my Dad or Mr Lee to pick me up wherever I am.

The sweet smell of blooming flowers in Korea’s spring season is very calming.  It’s not so noisy here.  I pass by a shop and the aroma of freshly-baked breads attracts me.  I turn around to see the shop.  The signpost is in Korean and it has pictures of cakes, coffee cups and breads.  This must be a café, I thought.

I enter the café or so I think it is.  The bell jingles as I open the door.  The interior of the café isn’t that big but it’s cosy.  I like it here.  I take a seat by the window.  I love sitting by the window.  I like watching people pass by and everything.  It takes my mind off my problems if I have any. 

I see a waiter cleaning the table in front of me.  I should place my order now.  “Excuse me, waiter?” I call out for him.  He turns to me.  To my amazement, it’s Joong-ki!  He wears a white apron with some kind of logo on it.  His brown long-sleeved shirt, black trousers and sneakers fit well on him.  Honestly, he looks good. 

“Yes…” he pauses and stares at me.

“Cassie?”

“Joong-ki?” 

We laugh as we say each other’s name at the same time.  I assume he works here.  I cannot believe I would meet a classmate here.  Well, at least there’s someone I can communicate easily with.

“So, you work here, huh?” I ask.  Damn, why would I ask something so obvious?

“Yea, I do.”  He smiles.  None of us say a thing for a while.  I purse my lips while thinking of something to say.  “Would you like to order a drink?” Joong-ki asks.  I guess I should place my order through him.

“Oh, yes!  That’s why I’m here.  What’s your special today?” I ask.  I can’t read the menus.  They’re all words, no pictures.

“I’m sorry, special?”  He looks confused but totally cute.  Gosh, Cassie, what are you thinking?!

“Uh-huh, special like what is the drink of the day and stuff?”

“No, we don’t have anything like that.  Customers just order what they want,” he replies honestly.

“Okay then.  Um…can I have iced lemon tea?” I ask.  I see him jotting it down.

“Do you wanna eat anything?”

“What’s the best cake here?”  He stops to think a while and then he beams.

“Why don’t you try my Tiramisu?”  I think I misheard something.

“Your Tiramisu?  Seriously?” I say in disbelief.  He can make Tiramisu?  Are you kidding me?

“Yup, it’s my recipe.  Wanna have a slice?  It’s not the best in the menu though.  In fact, it’s not even in the menu.  I won’t charge you for it.  Not even one customer ever tasted it yet,” he explains.

Well, since I’m not going to be charged for it why not?  “Yea, sure!” I say.  He smiles happily as he rushes to the counter and then to the kitchen.

Fifteen minutes pass and he comes back with a tray of my orders.  I notice he’s no longer wearing his apron.  Isn’t he still working? 

“Here are your orders,” he says as he places a glass of iced lemon tea and a plate of sliced Tiramisu on my table.

“Yay!” I cheer and clap.  Surprisingly, he takes a seat in front of me.  What?  Aren’t you supposed to work?

“Joong-ki, aren’t you supposed to be working right now?  Your boss would be mad at you if you sit here,” I remind him.

“It’s okay.  I’ve finished my shift.  I’m no longer a worker at this time.”  He smiles.  “Hurry, have a bite,” he says.  He takes a fork and uses it to cut through the Tiramisu.

“Come on, where’s my fork?” I ask.  I might play-pretend to sulk if I have to.  He’s about to place the fork into his mouth when he looks at me and hands it to me.  I am stunned.

“Open your mouth,” he says.  I awkwardly open my mouth as he feeds me the Tiramisu.  Gosh, do you have to do this?  I can feel myself blushing like crazy.  No one ever does things like this to me except for my parents.  Using the same fork, he feeds himself a mouthful of Tiramisu.  The Tiramisu tastes so delicious.  The taste of coffee is accurate.  It’s not overpowering or whatever.  It’s just perfect.

“How is it?” he asks with his mouth full.  It’s disgusting but cute which makes me laugh. 

“It tastes delicious!  It’s very good actually.  Why don’t you put it up in the menu?” I ask.

“I’m not sure about that.  It’s just, what if no one likes it?”

“You should never say that.  I like it!”  I take the fork of his hand and take a mouthful of his Tiramisu.  “Yum! See?” I say as I keep on eating the Tiramisu.  He titters at possibly my actions?

“Okay, if you say so.  I’ll ask my boss.”  I’m glad he agrees.  I mean, this is so good.  He’s very good.  He’s the only student in class and in school that’s actually acknowledges my presence and is nice to me.  He’s the only friend I’ve got here.  How do I make him stay?

“Do you happen to have a vacancy here?” I ask.  Yes, I should get a job here, with him.  I think I must get a job.  I have to earn myself some money.  At least, here I have him.  It’ll be easier for me, right?

“I think we do.  You really wanna work here?”

“Yup, I really do.  Can you get me in?”

“Come with me,” he says and takes my hand.

“Where are we going?”

“To see my boss.”

 

***

 

Joong-ki and I head to the café together right after school.  His boss accepts me to work as Joong-ki’s assistant in the kitchen plus as a dishwasher.  Since Joong-ki’s Tiramisu recipe is going to be put up in the menu, he needs someone’s help to make that sort of complicated cake.  I actually wanted to be a waitress but Joong-ki said I’m not convenient to be one because I don’t know how to speak Korean.  Well, blame my Dad for that.

When I told Mom and Dad about having a job and about Joong-ki, they were pretty happy.  They never had expected that I would fit in this quick and this good.  I guess I take that as a compliment.

Anyway, we arrive at the café right before 3 p.m. which is when our shift starts.  On weekdays, we’ll work from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. while on Saturdays we work longer, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.  On Sundays, we start at 7 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon.  I know it’s tiring but I don’t wanna complain.  I’ve never worked before so this is good enough.  

“Cassie, wear this,” Joong-ki says and throws me an apron.  It lands right on my head.

“Oh come on, can’t you give it to me politely?” I whine.

“Okay, maybe next time.  Tie your hair and wash your hands.  We have to start now,” he instructs.  He sounds bossy but I’ve no time to argue.  I put my hair up in a bun to keep my hair out of my face when I work.  I head to sink first.  Empty.  I don’t have to wash anything yet so I have to help Joong-ki with his Tiramisu.  I wash my hands and dry them up using a towel.

“So, what do I have to do?” I ask him.  I look around the bakery.  It’s wide and spacious.  Joong-ki doesn’t answer instead, he gives me a paper.  Based on the looks of it, it’s a recipe.  And thankfully, it’s entirely in English!

“I printed that out specially for you, you know?” he says while his hands are busy opening cabinets and drawers.  “Cassie, get me all the ingredients listed on the recipe,” he instructs.

I don’t wanna slow things down so I hurry to the pantry to get the ingredients.  I have to get him a carton of fresh cream, mascarpone cheese, gelatines, castor sugar, eggs, sponge cake, finger biscuits and coffee!  The problem is most of the writing on the packaging of these stuff in the pantry are in Korean.  And the only things I can easily differentiate in here are eggs, finger biscuits and coffee. 

I am so dead.  I’ll either die in embarrassment for bringing the wrong ingredients or I’ll get killed for wasting time looking for the right ones.  I grab the ingredients that I know first.  I open the fridge and there are like ten different creams or milk or even cheese in cartons, cans and little boxes. 

“Now, which one is fresh cream?” I ask myself.

“Cassie, what’s taking you so long?”  Joong-ki is starting to scream from the bakery.  Great, just great.  I screw up on my first day.

“Joong-ki, can you come here for a minute?” I shout.  I need his help.  I’m just not familiar with these things.  I see him running towards me in the pantry.

“What’s taking you so long?” he pauses and looks at my hands.  “You only get three ingredients?” he continues.

“Yea about that, which one is the fresh cream and mascarpone cheese?” I pause and give him the ingredients I’ve been holding and grab two different packaging.  “What’s the difference between castor sugar and usual sugar?” I ask.

Joong-ki face-palms himself and gives me this look and fake smile.  He lets out a long sigh.  He grabs a basket, puts the rest of the ingredients in it and looks for the other ingredients.  Now, I feel bad.  I at these things.  “Sorry, I just at baking and cooking.  I’m not familiar with any of these things,” I confess.  He looks at me and smile.

“It’s okay.  I understand.  Here, make two cups of coffee for the Tiramisu,” he says as he hands me a small pack of coffee beans. 

“Okay,” I reply solemnly.  Now, he’s gonna think I’m useless. 

“Come on…don’t be sad.  I’ll teach you some things later, alright?  Cheer up!”  Joong-ki pinches my cheek.  I put on the best smile on my face but still I feel kinda bad since I can’t help him.  I mean, I’m his assistant.  I supposed to know all these things.

I make my way to the coffee maker outside at the counter.  This might be the only thing I’m capable of.  While I’m waiting the coffee to brew, I look around the place.  It’s pretty quiet right now.  There are not many people.  There’s no one at the counter at this moment. 

I hear the bell jingles.  It must be a customer, I thought.  I get myself ready.  I can see three girls, probably my age, making their way to the counter.  Bummer…they’re Koreans.  Who cares?  I’ll try my best to serve them!  I smile genuinely as they approach the counter.

“Good afternoon and welcome.  May I have your order, please?”  I can’t believe I said that!  I’ve always wanted to say that.  Whenever I go to restaurants or café, the waiters sound so polite and professional when they say that. 

I’m not sure whether it’s because they don’t understand me or they hate me.  They move to the other side of the counter.  I’m the only one here!  They have to place their orders through me.  I approach them.

“I’m sorry, Miss.  I’m the only one available right now,” I say politely.  I observe them carefully.  Actually, these girls kinda look familiar.  Do they go to my class?  Maybe they’re not.  If they do, they wouldn’t ignore me, right?  Right at that moment, Joong-ki comes out of the bakery to check on me.

“Cassie, coffee’s ready?” he asks.  Before I can open my mouth, a voice interrupts.

“Joong-ki ah…”  I look straight to the direction of the voice.  It belongs to one of those girls who ignored me.  They know Joong-ki?  They must be regular customers.  The girl talks to Joong-ki and ignores me completely.  I don’t really mind.  If I were her, I would’ve talked to someone I’m comfortable with. 

I don’t know.  Is it just me or Joong-ki’s expression turns annoyed the moment the girl started talking?  Well, that’s none of my business.  I check on the coffee maker.  I’m done brewing it.  I pour the coffee into two mugs.  I’m about to walk to the bakery but Joong-ki stops me.

“Cassie, have you met them?” he asks me and points to the girls.  I look at him with a clueless look.  “They’re in our class.  Didn’t you notice?” he says.  I was right.  No wonder they look familiar.  Maybe they sit at the back.  That’s why I didn’t notice.  I smile at them.  Two of them smile at me while the one who talked to Joong-ki doesn’t.  Well, she doesn’t like me.  Who cares?

“I’m Cassie,” I say as I put my hand out to shake hands with them.  None of them acknowledge my friendliness.  Okay, fine.  “Joong-ki, I’m going inside,” I end everything.  It’s just awkward so I don’t wanna stay there longer. 

On my way back to the bakery, I can hear them talking with Joong-ki.  There is no awkwardness, all comfortable and not cold like they were with me.  Guess I’m not fitting in that well.  Putting me in to work only in the bakery was a right decision.  I’m not good at handling customers especially if they dislike me.