Zico

I checked everything in the café, looking to see if I missed any spots. I told my staff that today the café was closed since I had an important event to attend this evening. I went to the kitchen to see Eun ji putting away the last of the ho dduk away in a zip lock container. As I was checking around to see if the kitchen was cleaned, Eun ji was watching me. That girl has had a major crush on me since the day I hired her. I found it more of an obsession since she was always watching me, and she even knew where I lived, which I find very creepy. She was

“You want the rest of the Ho dduk?” Eun ji asked, standing there

“Sure” I said, walk towards her. I quickly took the Ho dduk. I got out my phone and checked the time. It was getting to 2pm.

“So what are you doing when you get home?” Eun Ji asked, coming closer

“Umm, don’t know yet. I might maybe eat and take a nap” I replied, slowly backing away from her. *She’s so creepy like no joke*
 

“Can you give me a ride home?” Eun ji asked

“Ummm ok” I said, scratching my hair. I didn’t want to give her a ride, but I didn’t want to be rude and say no

“Are you done?” I asked, taking out the café’s key and my car key

“Yeah” She said, taking off her apron and hanging it on a coat rack

“Then let’s go” I said, walking out. I opened the door for her when we stepped out. She stood there, waiting as I locked the door

We walked to my Hyundai Veloster, and I opened the door. We both got in and I started the car, and drove out of the parking lot. This was the first time that I was giving Eun ji a ride home. She mostly took the bus.

“So what is so important today that you closed the café?” Eun ji asked, looking out the window

“It’s my friend’s engagement party today” I answered, looking at the side of the road

“Oh okay” She said, looking at the ceiling of the car

“How could you even afford to buy this car?” She asked, touching the seat

“Ah I bought it using my savings” I answered, looking at her. This was the first time that I was actually looking at her. She kept on smiling, which revealed a dimple in her right cheek.

“What are you staring at? Do I have something on my face?” She asked, touching her face

“No” I answered, looking out the window. It felt embarrassing being caught looking at her

“So where do you live?” I asked

“Oh I live in the Dobong-gu district, north of the Han River” She replied

“Wow, I never knew that you lived that far away” I asked, surprised. She was usually the first person to be there at the café, whenever I went there.

She wasn’t actually that bad now that I was talking to her.

“I usually have to get up around 3am to catch the earliest bus” She said, looking at her fingers

“Oh! Wow” As I was getting closer, she told me to take a left. I appeared in front of a rundown apartment building, with cracks running through the walls.

“You live here?”I asked, stopping the car

“Yeah” She answered, unbuckling her seat belt; she opened the door about to get out

“Wait” I said, grabbing her by the wrist

“Huh?” She asked, her face confused

“I can be your personal driver from now on, if you want” I said, removing my hand

“No, it’s okay. I’m fine” She said, looking down

“I insist” I said. I really wanted to help her out

“Ok then” She said

“When do you want me to come pick you up?” I asked

“Can you pick me up around 5am?” She asked

“Yeah” I answered. I wasn’t an early bird.

“Thanks boss” She said, getting out

“You call me Zico” I said. I hated to be called boss. It made me feel so old

“Ok then, Zico. See you tomorrow!” She said, walking up to the apartment building

I drove away, towards Incheon. I got to my apartment building around 4pm. I got out, opened the door and went inside my apartment. I was so hungry and tired

I went to the fridge and got a bottle of water.

I chucked it down, stopping once to breathe.  I opened the container that had the Ho Dduk in it, and took a bite out of one of them. The delicious filling of brown sugar and cinnamon filled me with happiness. The recipe for the Ho dduk was Eun ji’s recipe, and even though she was a bit weird, she was very good at pastry and Korean sweets. After I finished eating it, I went to my bedroom and changed into black basketball shorts, and a white t-shirt.  

I went to my closet, and touched my black suit. This would be my 4^th time wearing a black suit. I first wore a suit to my father’s funeral when he passed away when I was 12 years old. The 2^nd time was when I graduated high school, when I was 18. The 3^rd time was when my older brother got married, and I was chosen to be the best man when I was 22 years old. I was excited to be wearing a suit again. I left the room, and crushed on the couch that was in the living room. I needed to take a nap before the event started, which took place at 6:30pm.

I kept on dozing off, looking for sleep. Right as I was about to fall asleep, the bell rang.

“OhMyGosh! Who is it?” I asked, dragging my body off the couch.

No response

I opened the door to see Eddie and Jay standing there with smiles plastered on to their faces.

“Hey good looking” Jay said, pushing his way through the door

“Hi Zico” Eddie said, politely coming in. I closed the door after Eddie came in. I was pissed off. I wanted to sleep.

“So what are you wearing to the event this evening?” Jay asked, sitting on the couch, with his legs resting on the coffee table

Eddie was sitting there, all quite.

“Jay, I suggest you take your feet off the table” Eddie said, pulling Jay’s legs off the table

“Thank you, Eddie” I said, taking the seat across from them

“Yep” Eddie said, nodding his head

“I am wearing the usual” I said

“Wait, I have something to say” Eddie softly said

“What?” Jay asked, too loudly

“Zhara is coming to the party” He said, looking up at the ceiling

“You have got to be kidding me!” Jay exploded

“No I’m not kidding you. If you are going to have a bad attitude about it, then I advice you not to show up” Eddie said, his face serious

“Now I don’t know what you said to Zhara yesterday, but you really got her upset” He said in a serious tone. I wanted to know more

“What did he say to her?” I asked

“I said some real sh*t” Jay said, looking straight ahead

“Umm, I think this is part my fault” I said

“How? How is this part your fault?” Eddie asked, looking at me

“Ahh, I told Jay where Hyori and Zhara were heading when they stopped by my place yesterday” I said, not wanting to meet his eyes. I felt bad that I had betrayed jay.

“Oh” Eddie said, looking down

“I’m sorry Jay” I said, also looking down

“Whatever. It’s okay. It’s all in the past now” Jay said. I was surprised. He usually got very mad if someone snitches on him

“I’m so nervous” Eddie said, getting up

“Why?” I asked, already knowing the answer

“It’s just that there’s going to be so many new faces that I have never seen before, and I have to impress everyone or else they’ll think that I’m some type of a jerk” Eddie said, getting up and walking towards the kitchen

I and Jay followed behind

“Oh! We’re going to be here for you so don’t worry yourself too much” I said, patting him on his back

“Thanks bro” Eddie said, hugging me

“Anyone want some Ho dduk?” Jay asked, already eating one of the Ho dduk

“Who made these? They are amazing” He exclaimed

“Yep I know they are. Eun ji made them. It’s her own recipe” I replied

“Oh, it’s stalker girl. She may be weird but she can sure make some Ho dduk” Jay said, offering Eddie some. He gladly took one and bit into it

“These are spectacular!” Eddie said, taking one more

“Yeah they are” I said, looking at the time on the microwave. It was getting to 5:30pm

“I think you guys should go now” I said, gently pushing them out

“Why dong saeng?” Jay asked, jumping up and down holding my arm

“Cuz it’s almost time for Eddie’s Engagement party” I answered, leading them to the door. I opened the door, and waited for them to leave

“Ok! See you in an hour” Jay said, getting out of the door

“Hope to seeing you, Zico” Eddie said, also getting out of the apartment

“Yep! See ya there” I said, shutting the door. I went to the bathroom and took a hot shower. I got dressed, combed my hair, and was out the door around 6:30pm.