Days go by and we hear nothing; I feel disappointed but honestly, what was I expecting to happen? The morning breeze strings my tired eyes as my father and I make our early morning commute; this late into the year the sun doesn’t rise until nearly 8 a.m and it feels as if I’ve only slept for a few moments during the night. We enter through the back between a small alleyway that’s littered with trash and honestly I hate looking at it, I’d much rather pretend I’m somewhere different, somewhere nice and clean and warm but I begrudgingly grab the door handle in front of me. When we enter the bakery it smells like bread and cleaning supplies, as it always does.

 

My father nods at me as we both begin to work; preparing the pastries we would be serving that morning. We worked together in silence and at this point you would think it would have become less awkward seeing as I’m used to the lack of communication but it hasn’t. My father doesn’t say a single word to me. By the time Jungkook and my Mother arrive my apron is already covered in an assortment of ingredients and my face flushed and puffy from constant use of the oven.

 

The two of them grab the til and deposits from the night before, Jungkook runs back out to drop them off at the bank and my mother walks to the front and begins counting; in the almost empty store I can hear the coins dropping. ‘’I’ll be right back’’ I mumble before stepping outside back into the alleyway. This time the wind that gets swept between the buildings feels peaceful and nice. I close my eyes and lean back against the building.

 

‘’Jimin’’

 

Jungkook grabs onto my shoulder. ‘’He’s waiting outside the front doors’’

 

My eyes go wide. ‘’Come to the front’’ Jungkook waves and hands me the keys.

 

‘’W-what do you want me to do with these?!’’ I fumble around with them; my arms now shaking from the cold and being too stupid to remember to throw a coat on.

 

‘’Go unlock the doors and tell him we have his notebook! I don’t know! Feel the moment; make plans! Go for it!’’ Jungkook nods and slips past me through the back door. I take a deep breath and my lungs strain to pull in the cold air. My shoulders go stiff and I make my way around the front.

 

Just as I round the corner I see him standing there; he’s wearing a large brown hunting cap with ear covers, they’re clasped under his chin and slightly squishing his flushed cheeks. I stop for a second and he looks up at me; smiling awkwardly and nods at my general direction.

 

‘’H-hello!’’ I smile and walk closer but I instantly react saying a word as I become hyper aware of my thick accent.

 

‘’Hey’’ His voice is deep and rich. ‘’Sorry to be that guy who’s you know.. Waiting outside before you open’’ He laughs. ‘’Oh’’ I nod. His english is perfect and it only adds to my quickly diminishing confidence.

 

I reach out, unlocking the door right away. ‘’Here’’ I hold the door open for him and he shuffles inside; above us the bell rings and Jungkook turns around to face us, an almost unsettling grin on his face. ‘’Your notebook is here’’ I cringe at the sound of my words.

 

‘’Oh! Thank god, that had my thesis in it’’ He sighs with relief as I scurry behind the counter, taking it out of the top drawer and handing it to him. ‘’Here’’ I smile and he gently takes it out of my hand.

 

‘’Hey, Brother, Weren’t you supposed to have your first break a few minutes ago?’’ Jungkook speaks quietly in Korean. ‘’O-Oh but we don’t.. Really take breaks?’’ I respond but Jungkook furrows his brows and instantly I can tell he’s trying to set up something up.

 

‘’Take your break and sit with me’’

 

In unison Jungkook and I turn our head at the stranger. ‘’W-Was that rude? I’m sorry’’ He laughs ‘’I’m Uhhh, Namjoon, by the way’’ He replies in Korean.

 

Jungkook looks back at me and raises his eyebrow and I can feel my body go up in flames. ‘O-Ok’’ I slip my apron off and over my head, folding it up and tossing it into the opened drawer before closing it.

My mind goes blank and I stare at the ground; my canvas non slip shoes slightly soaked through due to the snow that had freshly fallen that morning. I step beside Namjoon as he orders breakfast ‘’Did you make all of this?’’ I look up at him and nod ‘’Y-yeah me and my father did, this morning’’ ‘’Wow’’ He smiles ‘’It all looks so good, you did a great job. Do you want anything?’’ ‘’N-No that’s okay! I’m not hungry’’ I laugh but Namjoon pouts his lower lip and finishes paying for his array of pastries.

 

‘’I am really lucky you found this dumb thing’’ Namjoon continues; his voice soothed my nerves. ‘’I was studying for about five different finales the last few days and I just noticed last night it was missing.’’ We walk over to his favorite spot which I instantly notice is located under the air vent; hot air blows down the back of my shirt, my shoulders finally lax. Namjoon pulls a chair out for me and sits across the table and sets the plate of food between us. ‘’Are you in college?’’ Namjoon asks.

 

I shake my head hoping he won’t judge me and my lack of further education. ‘’No, I graduated High School, though’’ I grimace thinking about all the bullying I had endured. ‘’After my parents retire, I’ll probably take over the shop’’ I quickly add.

 

‘’Oooh cool’’ He nods, he seemed genuinely interested? This was too good to be true. ‘’I really like small places like this, it’s so cozy and I love seeing you and your family spend so much time on everything’’ I feel my face become even more flushed. ‘’Thank you’’ ‘’But seriously, you better eat some of this or I’ll feel weird’’ He slides the plate closer to my side and just as I’m about to reach out I hear the back door open.

 

‘’Your break is over, get back to work!’’ My father sternly shouts from across the store. I nod as I quickly stand up from my chair, sending it scooting across the floor behind me. I give a slight bow at the waist ‘’I’m sorry! It was nice meeting you!’’ I feel stupid, I feel like I ruined my chance and like I’ve humiliated myself. ‘’Ok! It was nice meeting you too, Jimin’’ The fact that he knew my name caught me off guard but I can tell his tone of voice has changed and he’s uncomfortable.

 

As I walk towards the back door Jungkook hands me my apron, my fingers glide across the embroidered Hangul on the front that spelt my name, something my mother had done to celebrate my first day working here. I could feel my chest pool with warmth.

 

After my break had ended I was finally able to step out of the kitchen although it was fifteen minutes to close and by that time it was already dark out. As I walk into the storefront I can tell Jungkook and my Mother took advantage of the slow day as the place was decorated for Christmas.

 

On the counter in front of me was a small fake flocked tree with ornaments hanging from it, upon further inspection my mother must have made most of them since it was baby photos of Jungkook and I framed within a candy-cane striped frame and hung neatly with a red ribbon. Behind me the two large windows are decorated with stickers and lights. ‘’Do you like it?’’ My mother steps out of the public bathroom, cleaning supplies in hand. ‘’Y-yeah, it looks really nice’’ I smile. ‘’I thought it might help us all feel a little more happy even though this time of year is stressful’’ She sets the cleaning bottles under the counter where they belong. ‘’Your Brother left after we were all done so he’s home now. Do you want to call the taxi while I start locking up?’’ It was strange how my mother could switch between her regular self and her business personality.

 

I pull up the app on my phone as my mother finishes her nightly routine, selecting the location of the store and it’s only a few minutes before were finished and the three of us huddle into the taxi together.