Encounter

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Description

Rosie, a culinary graduate dreaming of becoming a translator, went to South Korea to study Hangugeo.

Foreword

Rosie, a culinary graduate dreaming of becoming a translator, went to South Korea to study Hangugeo. She also studies Nihongo during her free time in cafes. After a month of arriving in Korea, she was able to adjust to living in Seoul. It was just the start of the semester, and she had plenty of time. She decided to make the most of her stay and visited some of the tourist spots in Seoul, such as N. Seoul Tower, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Lotte World. She even tried camping in a nearby province. She enjoyed the activities,  but she wanted something productive to pass the time. Rosie was exploring her neighborhood after her class. When she saw a hiring banner outside of Haru & OneDay, one of the cafes she frequently visited. 

 

After a week of contemplation, she decided to apply as a part timer in the cafe. Donghwa, the cafe owner, interviewed her. He was hesitant that she's a foreigner, as well as her intention to apply. He probed her reasons for being interested in the position. She answered that she  wanted to practice her culinary skills and hone her Korean. He then asked a follow up question, “What K-pop songs or groups do you listen to?” “I'm not well versed when it comes to K-pop, but I've heard Sorry Sorry, Nobody, Gangnam Style and Gee” she responded. “Oh, you know Super Junior? Do you know any members?” he asked. “I don't; I just know them as Super Junior in general.”

 

“Alright then, but the most important thing if you want to practice cooking is the taste of your dish. Do you have any food prepared?” Rosie explained she didn’t bring any since her kitchen is not fully equipped yet, but if she could borrow the cafe's kitchen, she could prepare something. Donghwa agreed to lend the kitchen. He asked her to come back after operating hours with her ingredients. Rosie returned later that day, and she made a delicious Buko pie. He witnessed how she prepared it, so no questions were asked about her skills. Donghwa hired her and asked her to start the next day.

 

Rosie is assigned to the morning shift. She is preparing the ingredients for the pastries they will be selling when Donghae, in his police uniform, enters the cafe. They were weirded out, with each other having the thought, ‘Who's this staff? It’s my first time seeing her,’ and ‘Why did a handsome officer come in? The signage clearly says we're still closed.’ She greeted him, “Good morning, may I take your order?” “I would like a cup of an iced Americano,” he answered. Donghae found it refreshing that he wasn't recognized as the brother’s owner or as a Super Junior member.

 

When she handed the coffee to Donghae, he asked if they had any food available. She said, “The food is still being prepared since the cafe is actually not opened yet.” Donghae had already left when Rosie remembered that she had an extra sandwich from her breakfast. She chased after him and offered the sandwich. “It isn’t on the menu, but I do have a sandwich.” He said, "Oh, thanks, so how much is it?” Rosie responded, “No, it's for free. You've got a long day protecting people and fighting crimes anyway.”

 

After their first encounter, Donghae would consistently come when the cafe was still closed. Rosie thought to herself that being a police officer must be tough; he couldn’t even prepare his own breakfast. So, she always prepares a special sandwich for Donghae, which he would alternately enjoy with his ordered Iced Americano or Caffè Americano. When he’s not in a hurry, he sometimes asks Rosie to eat with him. They would talk about anything and everything without any reservation. 

 

Donghae curiously asked her why she had an extra sandwich the day they met. She explained that she always has extra food with her in case she meets less fortunate people in the street with whom she could share something. Her answer amazed Donghae. 

 

In the past 2 weeks that they've been interacting, Rosie was still clueless about Donghae's identity up until Donghwa came early and saw them laughing and joking around. He intervened, “I didn’t know you guys were close.” Rosie was surprised that they knew each other. They then explained that they are actually brothers. “Oh, seeing you standing next to each other, I can see the resemblance now.” Donghae apologizes that he didn’t tell her, “It’s just that I enjoyed our carefree conversations.” She said, "No worries, sir; it's partly my fault for not knowing my bosses." "See, that's why I didn’t want to tell you. What happened to my Rosie, who laughed and called me babo for slipping on a wet floor? Just treat me as the police officer Donghae that you met, okay?" 

 

As months passed since Rosie worked in the cafe, she witnessed customers asking the staff if they could leave gifts for Donghae and seeing some customers doing vlogs and mukbang in the cafe. She was initially confused as to why people would give a policeman gifts. ‘Did he do something heroic?’ So she asked her coworkers about it, and they told her that Donghae is actually a member of Super Junior, and he is currently serving as a police officer for the Seoul Metropolitan Police. And then she thought it all made sense now as to why Donghwa asked those questions during the interview.

 

 

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