“Kamsahabnida! Come again!” I bow to the middle-aged couple walking out the door.

                “Ne!” they reply, and I smile. Lee Hyun Seun and his wife, Lee Kim Hye, have been regulars at Vivaldi for ages. I actually have their usual order memorized- 2 Sweet Thai bubble teas and one large strawberry cake for two. 

One day, I’ll have someone like that, I think. But for now, I’m content with running my bakery and café, Vivaldi.

It’s a small but cozy little place, with pretty lighting, dark brown hardwood flooring, and- thanks to yours truly- a wide selection of cakes, cupcakes, breads, and other treats. On the upper level is a small apartment, perfect for 1 person to live in.

I moved here from the United States a year ago, and my bakery isn’t well-known, but I’m doing pretty well.

                Baking is wonderful. The smell of sweet treats baking in the oven, mixing ingredients to get the perfect batter, decorating my cakes with icing and chocolate and fruits. People seem to love my food, which makes me really happy. It’s all worth it, even though I have to get up at 4 in the morning to make everything and try and bake more in between orders. 

                I glance at the clock. It’s 5 minutes to 11 PM, my closing time. I start wiping down tables and stacking up dishes. No one usually comes at-

                “Oh, don’t stop!” I freeze mid-wipe. A couple has walked in, entangled in each other’s arms and kissing passionately. They’re clearly drunk. The girl’s wearing a super short red dress and a pair of heels that are SO HIGH.

She’s still not as tall as the guy, who’s actually really, really, really attractive. With his intense eyes, smooth skin, and dark brown, slightly ruffled hair…whoa.

                But he’s clearly already taken.

                Suddenly, the guy detaches from the girl and says, “Okay, I’m done. See ya.”

                “What?” the girl exclaims.

                “I’m tired. Just leave.” The girl (and I) gape at him for a whole minute, and then the girl tosses her hair over her shoulder. “Fine.” She slams the door behind her, making the little doorbell rattle.

                I’m frozen in place. I literally don’t even know what to say.

Suddenly, the guy sees me frozen mid-wipe. “Oh. Do you want my autograph or something? If you give me red velvet cupcakes I’ll sign the receipt.” he winks.

Despite the fact that that wink was probably the iest thing I’ve ever seen, I throw down my cleaning rag and started yelling at him.

                “Who do you think you are to come here and start face with some random girl in my café, and then randomly leave her? First of all, go make out in a private place. Second of all, go make out in a PRIVATE PLACE. NOT MY CAFÉ. Third, you should NEVER tell a girl to leave after “having fun” with her for like, what, two hours? What a jerk!” I scoff and pick up my cleaning rag, turning away from the guy.

“What a lowlife.” I mutter.

                “What did you just say?” I hear him hiss. I look up. Whoa. He just went from looking drunk and tipsy to looking pissed. He gets up and walks towards me, getting up in my face.

I feel myself tense up and drop my cleaning rag. Crap. I shouldn’t have said that. Crap. Crap.

                “Who do you think you are, you said? You don’t recognize me? I’m Suho from Exo.” He tucks a loose hair from my bun behind my ear- then whispers directly in my ear, “You know, the y leader. The one that gets love confessions and has millions of loving fangirls. Still don’t know who I am?”

Shivers run up and down my spine, and I feel my knees go all wobbly. This guy is so good-looking…but he smells like beer and he’s all tipsy.

I slap Suho across the face.

“What the heck are you doing?” I screech. Suho has one hand over his slapped cheek and is looking at me like I’m a psychopath. I probably look like one right now, but I don’t even care. “Do you try and seduce every girl you see? What a sicko! I’ve never even heard of Exo. What is that, a computer program? Just GET OUT OF MY CAFÉ!” I literally shove him out the door and slam it behind him.

Then I lock the door and pull the shades down.

I can’t sleep tonight. All I can think of is him. That jerk makes my blood boil. What was his name, Suho? Who even knows what Exo is?

I punch my pillow, imagining that it’s his face.