◘ 1
A Baker Gets Wet
Eunhyuk
I flattened the dough underneath my rolling pin, as I listened to BoA's 'Eat You Up.' The smell of freshly baked bread filled my breaths as I smiled. Although it was a hot summer day outside, in here, it was the perfect temperature. The toasty atmosphere ranged daily; from extremely hot, to freezing cold. It depended on whether I baked that day or not and that day was today. I had been running low on my baked goods, when my employee ran up to me with a list of things to do.
Oh, by the way, my name is Eunhyuk. Well, actually it's Lee Hyukjae, but everyone calls me Eunhyuk for some reason. I don't know why, someone just thought of it I guess and it's been around forever. Aish, looking at this list, I'm guessing today is one of those HOT sweaty baking days. But it doesn't bother me, because I love hearing the satisfactory moans as people bite into my mouth-watering triple chocolate muffins, or the way the little kids ogle my sweets in the display cases. My heart flies every time someone compliments my baking skills, which I learned from my father.
He's gone now, along with my mother. They both had peaceful deaths of old age. It was wonderful knowing that they could grow old together still loving the same way they did 40 years earlier. Only when my dad died did the twinkle in my mothers eye dull, and the wrinkles around them lessen. She tried not to show it, but i clearly see that him being gone was a tough burden for her. Though, not long after his death she followed; leaving me at the age of 16. It ruined my high school years from the depression, to the home sickness until I moved in with my cousin Sungmin. His parents had divorced, thus he now lives with his mother, whom I now consider my own. It wasn't until my last year of high school that I realized I needed to do something with myself, and that life was going to take action whether I like it or not. Thankfully, I had the inheritance of my fathers bakery called 'Down To Earth', which I voluntarily threw myself towards. Of course, it was hard work, but the employees took a quick liking to me, and started calling me Jr., since I acted just like my father. The hard work that I put into this shop is almost as much as he did. Later on, I remodeled the bakery into a cafe that got a huge hit on the first day of Grand Opening.
I remember standing there, watching the people file in and sit at the freshly decorated dining area. Still hinting the smell of fresh paint and wood, that was probably one of the best days the shop had, not counting holidays when, we were our busiest.
After things kind of quieted down, and my cafe hit the paper and magazines, I started enjoying my baking. Not that I didn't love it before, it was just the fact of rushing about the kitchen, and getting frustrated with the crew. My decorators sometimes messed up on the littlest details, but it wouldn't get passed my eye. Even if it was a small business, I wanted it perfect. Nothing to displease the customer. Because, unfortunately, the customer is always right.
I snapped out of my thoughts as my employee, Alice, ran up to me.
I gave her a gummy smile and asked,
"What's up, Alice?" she nodded her head quickly but didn't return my smile.
"Boss, I know it's almost closing time, but we just got an order from the front that a customer wants 50 crêpes by tomorrow morning at 11." she bit her lip waiting for my reaction. I hesitated, then sighed; We open at 10.
"The customer is always right.." I muttered. gaped open.
"B-But Boss! We only have an hour 'til closing! How are you going to make them that fast?!" I straightened up and fixed the red scarf around my neck before pointing at her with my rolling pin. Her eyes crossed and she pushed it away with her finger waiting for an explanation. I sighed again.
"It's going to be hell right now." I told her, placing the pin down, and covered the remaining dough so that it wouldn't dry.
"Clean this up, and bake the couple of layers I already made..I gotta go talk to the team." I left with her cocking her hip. Then she groaned and ran a hand through her short choppy hair, "God, you NEVER get a break!" she shouted after me but I only looked over my shoulder replying with, "Neither did he!"
That shut her up, as she figured who I was talking about. I chuckled when I heard her mumbling to herself as she got to work. Every body here was like family- actually we were all practically related somehow. Through the crisscross of blood relations and marriages, we all appeared to have the same interest in baking. Alice, the girl back there, she's my niece. She's been working here for 3 years and I don't think any customer wouldn't like her. Sure, she could force herself on you at first, but later you'll get used to her perky attitude and find yourself laughing along with everybody else.
Also, Sungmin worked here too. He works at the counter where I usually place all the nice, outgoing people to serve the customers.
I walked upstairs to find that the crew was already cleaning and getting ready to head off. I paused, and surveyed the scene around me. My Prescense seemed to be noticed and the shuffling stopped altogether; all the heads turning to me.
"What's up, boss?" Key asked. I frowned at my hands then looked up at them. I held eye contact with my best bakers and began,
"Well, you see.." I itched at an imaginary scratch on the back of my head and continued, "there was an abrupt order at the counter, just now. And we need to make 50 crêpes by tomorrow morning. Please prepare the mix, we've got work to do." looks of disbelief were shared. But most of all their faces showed sadness, which shocked me above all. They usually loved baking, no matter what time it was. Even if we only had an hour to make the pastries, their reaction was just..wrong. So much so, that I even mustered the courage to ask them what was wrong. What I didn't expect was the sudden outburst from all over the room. Shouts were thrown in my direction. Pleas for me to stop pushing myself, so that I would go on vacation. Then it dawned on me, and suddenly I knew what they were getting at. I raised a hand and waited for them to simmer down. Once their traps were shut I opened my own so that I could speak. Though what actually happened, was that Hangeng beat me to it.
"Hyuk. You know he wouldn't like it. He wouldn't like you pushing yourself so hard." that stalled me enough to let Armageddon break through once again. The yells were coming from everywhere and it seemed they had no end. This was the first time I'd seen something so out of place. So unreal. So...so...heart warming. The shouts mutes as I looked around the place, catching glimpses of emotion, as they pled for me to go. To just leave them, but how could I? I was so attached to this place; mentally and financially, so how could they just open the door and boot me out. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of my face. I could feel the heat of their words and how much they actually meant to me. The family, the crew, the team, were now forcing me off. The thought of them not needing me anymore stung a little, and I couldn't help but frown.
Out of nowhere, Sungmin appeared by my side. Glancing at his face I knew he had something planned and I sighed, once again holding my hand up. They shut it quickly, and stared at my face.
"Alright, alright. I'll go, since I know that you've been planning this for a while. But you will have to bake ALL of the 50 crêpes by yourselves- without my help. Are you sure you can handle that?"
"Yes~" they voiced in chorus. I slumped my shoulders a little, giving in, and ran a hand through my hair.
"Alright, I'll get going now..to wherever Minnie wants to take me.." I tugged at the bow that held my apron up and felt it loosen. Right when I hung it on the hook, Sungmin hooked his arm through mine and dragged me towards the exit. The room filled with cheers and I couldn't help but smile.
A/N:
So. (Why do I always start like that?) I'm in a better mood now, thank God,
and I decided I wanted to write some Haehyuk^^ hehe, because Donghae tops..OFCOURSE. x)
*cough* I sowwie.
Anyways, if you were thinking about the people that work with Eunhyuk, I wrote a couple people down.
Here's the layout:
Counter Employees-
Sungmin
Alice
Onew
Henry
Amber
and Bom.
Bakers-
Eunhyuk
Key
Victoria
Hangeng
Sooyoung
and Jessica.
Decorators-
Dara
Taemin
Sulli
and Heechul.
AND..YES. I am a gif , Donghae biased, and have a girl crush on Amber -_- Hehe, school is one week away~ Wish me luck!...(Why are they all blonde?)
Aaandd, the next chapter will be Donghae's POV. I'll tell you the characters that accompany his side of the story then..
GAH. He's SO.. UNF.!
Sometimes I annoy myself.
Comments