Well, welcome to another oneshot!

I really have nothing else to say, since I've mentioned everything in the foreword..

Well, read on :)

I always started my morning with a usual fix of tea.  Yes, tea, not coffee.  Why, you might ask?  I just simply didn't like coffee for some reason...it just tasted, strange.  I grew up as a child who wasn't allowed to drink coffee (thanks to my dad) and I guess that habit just stuck.  Anyway, tea was just fine for me, and it was one of the things I loved most.  There were always so many different choices, and I got my tea every morning from a little cafe at the corner of the block, a little ways from my apartment.

Lately, I’ve noticed that the café had hired a new employee.  I had never noticed him before, but these days, I couldn’t help but look for him every time I entered the café.  We had met in an unusual way.  I walked into the café one morning, and saw that he was singing with the mop he was using to clean the floor.  I think he noticed me, because right when he heard me close the door, he spun around quite quickly.  His face was tinged a slight pink as he bowed and directed me to a table.  Pretending not to have noticed anything, I nodded politely and walked to the table.  I sat down and looked at the menu he gave me.  As always, I ordered tea, but today I felt like milk tea, and decided to get a piece of toast with jam.  It was a Sunday, so I could leisurely spend my time, since I had no work today.  Taking out a novel, I began to read, waiting for my order.

A couple of minutes later, I saw my order arrive at corner of my eye.  Looking up, I thanked him.

“Kamsamhamnida.”

“Deh.”

Once again, he bowed to me and walked away.  This time, he went outside to clean the café windows.  Looking down at my food, I smiled, seeing that I had gotten a little something extra than what I ordered for.  My once plain milk tea had a smiling face draw with chocolate syrup on the surface, and my toast had jam spread in the shape of a heart in the middle.  I took a sip of my tea before going back to my novel.  After awhile, I looked up to see that the waiter had finished cleaning the windows, and was no witting at the counter, looking a bit bored.  Maybe I could start a conversation with him.

“Annyeohasaeyo.”

“D…deh?”

“I said, Annyeohasaeyo.”

“Ah, deh.  Annyeohasaeyo.”

“How’s the business?”

Smiling grimly, he answered, “As always, it’s slow on a Sunday.”

“Ah, chinchayo?”

“Deh.”

“Thank you for the tea and toast.  Did you make them?”

“I did, and I’m glad you like them,” he said, with a smile on his face.

Looking around, I noticed that he seemed to be the only on here today.

“Are you the only one here today?”

“Yes.  I’m in charge of opening the shop on Sundays, and the manager comes later.”

“Ah, deh.”

I glanced at my watch and realized it was time for me to go.  I had various errands and chores to complete before the day was done.  Taking a last sip of my tea and finishing my toast, I closed my novel and slipped it back into my bag.  Taking out my wallet, I walked to the counter to pay for my food.

“How much is the bill?”

“Aniyo.  It’s on the house,” the waiter said hurriedly.

“Are you sure?  It was such a delicious meal, and I’d be happy to pay for it.”

“Gwen cha na.  It’s on the house today, so please, don’t mind.”

“If you say so….”

“Deh, kamsamhamnida.”

“Well, I need to leave a tip at least.”

Taking out several bills, I slipped it into the tip jar.  Smiling, I put my wallet back into my bag.

“Thank you for the tea and toast today….?”

“Jong Hyun.  Kim Jong Hyun.”

“Deh, thank you Jong Hyun sshi.  I’ll see you later.”

“Annyeohasaeyo.”

Waving bye, I turned around and walked out of the café.

***

I had finally finished schooling for music.  I had traveled abroad to America to further my studies, and now that I was a qualified music teacher, I couldn’t wait to teach others, but when I stepped off the campus the day I graduated, I felt like I needed a break; a break from all the hard work I’ve been doing.  Maybe I could take a vacation when I arrived back home. 

That was what I thought I could do, but when I came back home, my parents forced me to work part time in their café.  Just the one thing I wanted to do once I got home, right?  The worst thing was probably having to wake up earlier than usual to open the café.  I didn’t have to worry about that during school, since I was able to schedule my own classes, but now, waking up early was a challenge in it’s making.  And what did I have to do for my job?  Clean the floors, windows, wash the dishes; all that cool stuff.  Then, once I was done with those, I could start serving the customers.  That part wasn’t too bad, but you had to make sure you got the right orders to the right people, and make them in time, otherwise, you get unhappy people, and when you get unhappy people, you lose customers.

After two months or so of this, I finally got used to it.  I learned to love the smell of coffee and tea in the morning, or the smell of pastries baking in the oven.  If you think about it, it was kind of relaxing.  Then, I discovered something else that made working at the café worthwhile.  There was this girl who always came at 8:00 in the morning every single day, and she always ordered some kind of tea.  It seemed like she really loved to drink it.  What was more was that she was beautiful.  She had long black hair that she wore in different styles every day, and her style of dress made her look even better.  She was a conservative, wearing clothes that were innocent, but never failed to enhance her features.  I couldn’t help but look for her everyday, though sometimes I missed her, since I was in the back some days.  But on the days that I did manage to see her, it always made my day.  Now that I think about it, I think I’m falling for her.

It was Sunday when I opened the café.  My parents would come in at around 10, but I was alone for now.  The first thing I did was mop the floors.  We didn’t want people to come in on a dirty café, did we?  Then, for some reason, I felt like singing, so I did.  I even used the mop as my microphone.  I was getting really into it when I heard the door close, and I turned around quickly, embarrassed that I had been caught singing with a mop.  And you know who it was?  Her.  It just had to be her who walked in, though I was thankful that she didn’t say anything.  I bowed to her and directed her to a table.   She bowed and walked there while I went to get her a menu and went to put away the mop while she was looking. 

“I’ll have a hot milk tea and some toast with jam please,” she said, with her angelic voice.

“Deh.  Coming right up.”

So I went into the kitchen and made the milk tea and then the toast.  Just when I was going to bring out the food, I felt like I should do something.  Instead of giving her plain old milk tea, I decided to draw in it, like I frequently saw my parents do as a child.  Taking the chocolate syrup bottle, I carefully drew a face in it.  As for the toast, instead of letting her spread on the jam herself, I would spread it on for her.  Taking out the bottle of jam, I carefully drew a heart outline, and then filled it in with some more jam.  Finally satisfied with my work, I lifted the tray out to serve it to her.  Setting the cup and plate down quietly, I snuck a look at her reading.  She looked so serene and calm, yet so focused and intelligent.  What was there not to like?  Seeing me, she looked up.

“Kamsamamnida.”

“Deh,” I said quietly, before rushing away, hoping she didn’t notice me staring.

Once I had set the tray behind the counter, I looked outside, and noticed the windows were dirty.  I guess that’s my next thing to do on the checklist.  Grabbing the window mop and a bucket of water with soap, I went outside to wash the windows.  Luckily, the shop was small, so I didn’t have that many windows to wash.  Plus, while I washed the windows, it gave me a chance to look at her more.    The best part was when I washed the window next to her table, and I got to really see her.  Wow, stalkerish much? Thankfully for me, she didn’t look up when I was washing the window by her. 

When I was finally done with the windows, I went back inside to take a rest.  Taking out a sheet of paper, I scribbled down the lyrics that had just come to my mind.  If you don’t write them down right away, they’ll disappear.  While sitting and looking out the window, I tried to think of more lyrics, but a voice broke me out of my trance.

“Annyeohasaeyo.”

“D…deh?” Wow, smooth answer man.

“I said, Annyeohasaeyo,” she repeated.

“Ah, deh.  Annyeohasaeyo.”  At least that was a little better.

“How’s the business?”

Smiling grimly, I answered. “As always, it’s slow on a Sunday.”

“Ah, chinchayo?”

“Deh.”

“Thank you for the tea and toast.  Did you make them?”

“I did, and I’m glad you like them.” Yes! She likes the tea and toast!

She looked around a bit before returning her gaze back to me.

“Are you the only one here today?”

“Yes.  I’m in charge of opening the shop on Sundays, and the manager comes later,” It’s safe to say my parents are the managers, since they own the shop.

“Ah, deh,” she said, nodding her head.

She finished drinking her tea and ate the rest of her toast before standing up and slipping her book into her bag.  She walked up to the counter, taking out her wallet.

“How much is the bill?”

“Aniyo.  It’s on the house.”  It should be okay if I let her slip, right?  Umma and Appa won’t notice.

“Are you sure?  It was such a delicious meal, and I’d be happy to pay for it.”

“Gwen cha na.  It’s on the house today, so please, don’t mind.”

“If you say so….”

“Deh, kamsamhamnida.”  I don’t mind at all, trust me.

“Well, I need to leave a tip at least.”

Taking out several bills, she slipped them in to the tip jar.  What a generous girl.  That just makes me like her even more.

“Thank you for the tea and toast today….?”

She was asking for my name!  “Jong Hyun.  Kim Jong Hyun.”

“Deh, thank you Jong Hyun sshi.  I’ll see you later.”

“Annyeohasaeyo.”  I will definitely see you later.

Watching her walk out the door, I sat down when she left.  Then it dawned on me…I didn’t even ask her for her name! Shaking my head, I dropped my head into my hands.  Stupid… pabo…idiot.  The once in a life time opportunity is gone.  Why didn’t I ask what her name was when she asked me for mine?!

***

The next day, I walked into the café.  Heading up to the counter, I looked at the menu briefly, like I always did before checking if anyone was at the register to take my order.

“Tokio~”

“Deh, cha ka man nyo!”

It was Jong Hyun’s voice that I heard.  Smiling, I checked my watch.  I still had plenty of time, so I waited patiently.

“Choesamnida for the wait, how may I help you—Oh, it’s you!”

“Deh, it’s me again.  How are you today, Jong Hyun sshii?”

“I’m good, thanks.  What was your name again?  I forgot to ask you yesterday.”

“Cho neun Eun Ji imnida.”

“Nice to meet you, Eun Ji sshii.”

“Likewise, Jong Hyun sshii.”

“So, what will your order be today?”

“I’d like a medium ginger tea today please.”

“Coming right up.  That will be $2.75 please.”

“Here you go,” I said, handing him the payment.  Then, spying the tip jar, I slipped another bill in there.

“Kamsamhamnida.  It’ll just be a moment.”

With a smile, Jong Hyun left the front counter and went back to prepare the tea.  A couple of minutes later, he came out with a kettle and poured the tea into a cup on the back counter.  Choosing a lid, and then sealing the cup with it, Jong Hyun turned around and handed me my tea, in addition to a small wrapped muffin afterward.

“Here you go.”

“Kamsamhamnida, but I didn’t order the muffin.”

“I know, but it’s uh…customer service, for being such a loyal customer!”

“Ah, chincha?  Gomawayo!”

“Deh.”

Checking my watch again, I realized it was time for me to head on to work.

“Well, I have to get going now.  See you tomorrow.”

“Annyoung.”

“Annyoung.”

And I walked out of the café, enjoying my warmly prepared tea and muffin.

***

Today was a new day, and I would be able to bounce back.  I just had to make sure I was in my right mind, and that I was thinking clearly.  I will get her name today, even if it means making a fool of myself! Okay, okay, maybe not to that extent, but you get what I mean.  As usual, I opened the café at 7:00 in the morning, and got working on my chores.  I kept an eye on the clock, watching to see when she would walk in at 8:00.  When the clock struck, I heard the door bell chime, though I didn’t know who it was.  After a couple of minutes, I heard a voice.

“Tokio~”

“Deh, cha ka man nyo!”

I quickly, but carefully racked the last dish and wiped my hands dry before walking out to the front.

“Choesamnida for the wait, how may I help you—Oh it’s you!” No duh, Sherlock.

“Deh, it’s me again.  How are you today, Jong Hyun sshii?”

“I’m good, thanks.  What was your name again?  I forgot to ask you yesterday.” Yeah, I forgot, big time.

“Cho neun Eun Ji imnida.”  A beautiful name for a beautiful person.

“Nice to meet you, Eun Ji sshii.”

“Likewise, Jong Hyun sshii.”

“So, what will your order be today?”

“I’d like a medium ginger tea today please.”

“Coming right up.  That will be $2.75 please.”

“Here you go,” Eun Ji said, handing me the payment.   I put the money into the cash register, and looked up to see her stuff another bill into the tip jar.  Generous as ever.

“Kamsamhamnida.  It’ll just be a moment.”

I went into the back room to retrieve the kettle.  Making sure that I had the ginger tea, I walked out back to the front, and grabbed a muffin that caught my eye.  Taking a cup, I poured the tea in.  Selecting a lid, I sealed the cup and then turned around and handed the ginger tea to Eun Ji, before handing over the muffin as well.

“Here you go.”

“Kamsamhamnida, but I didn’t order the muffin.”

“I know, but it’s uh…customer service, for being such a loyal customer!” That sounded believable, right?

“Ah, chincha?  Gomawayo!”

“Deh.”

Eun Ji looked at her watch and then back up at me.

“Well, I have to get going now.  See you tomorrow.”

“Annyoung.” I guess it couldn’t last forever.

“Annyoung.”

I watched her walk out of the store, and then sat down, finally finishing the song I had started yesterday. 

As I sat there, reading the lyrics over, I thought of something.  I had been admiring her from afar, but maybe now was the time to take the step, to initiate something.  I didn’t want to watch her forever.  I wanted something to happen between us.  But how to go about that?

***

The weeks progressed, and Jong Hyun and I began to talk more, learning new things about each other.  I shared my dislike of coffee with him, and he shared his passion for music.  I learned that he had graduated from school, and could now teach music, but was detained temporarily at his parent’s café.  That explained why I never saw him until recently.  I revealed that I was a piano teacher, and he avidly made me promise to play him something sometime. 

If you really want to know the truth, then all I can say is that I’m falling for Jong Hyun.  Although there are so many things that I don’t know about him, I feel like I’ve known him forever.  He’s so comfortable to talk to and be around, like a good friend.   But something tells me I want something more than that.

It was a Sunday again, and I walked into the café at the usual time I did, and for some reason, I felt like something was going to happen today.

I sat at the table that I had the weeks before and waited for Jong Hyun to come out and hand me the menu.  That didn’t happen though.  He came out with a tray, which held two cups of milk tea and plate that held something that was covered up with a lid.  After setting the tray down, Jong Hyun sat across from me.

“Annyoung.”

“Annyoung Jong Hyun, but what is this?”

“Just a little something I’ve prepared.  Cha ka man nyo.”

He stood up and went behind the counter to retrieve a guitar.  Walking back to our table, he sat across from me again.

“What is that guitar for?”

“Just wait, and you’ll see,” he said, with a sly smile.

He strummed the guitar a couple of times before singing.

“The morning sunlight is like you
It might be a little childish, but I like it
If I’m by your side when you wake me up
I have nothing more to wish for
I want to see you

Don’t think that we can’t love because we’re young
Before it’s too late
Before I grow older, can you hold onto me?

 I love you only, as much as the sky
You truly are the reason I live
I really, really, I want to hug you like crazy
We’re still going too fast, right?

Whenever I meet eyes with her
I wonder if the smile that grows on my face
might reach a corner of your heart
I whisper into the beautiful ear
Inside of your uncertain heart
My feelings of love for you

I’ll be taking you
Girl, I know without you
 Without you, I miss you
I’ll long for you forever
My feelings of desire and hope
My love that grows deep again
I can no longer hide them
You are me, girl

My heart will catch you and not let you go
Can you feel it as well?
 Before, oh, it’s too late
Before I grow older, can you hold onto me?

I know that your heart
Cannot come by my side yet
 Can I just call you my one?

Let’s all together one, two, three, let’s begin
You are my one, my everything
I really, really, I want to love you like crazy
I can do that now, right?
I really, really, I want to love you like crazy
I can do that now, right?”

He finished strumming and singing the last note before looking up at me, shyly grinning.  I just stared at him, not finding any words to say or describe how I felt.  Hearing him sing to me was beautiful, and I was too ecstatic and surprised to say anything.  I just sat there sitting there and staring at him, and I was pretty sure he thought I was going crazy now, considering he started waving his hands in front of my face after a little while.

“Eun Ji ah…Eun Ji ah!”

“A..Deh?!”

“Are you okay?  You seemed to be spaced out a little there…”

“Oh, deh.  Gwen cha na,”  I said, grinning, trying to hide my embarrassment.

“If you say so…”

“I do.”

“So…how was it?”

“It was one of the most beautiful things I ever heard.  Thank you for sharing with me.”

He blushed, this time a bit more red than last time, but what surprised me was that he looked straight into my eyes, like he was determined to tell me something.

“I’m glad you like it, now, it’s time for this.”

My face held a confused look until I saw him take off the cover of the plate.  Looking down, I saw that he had baked a small cake, and on the top, the were words written in frosting. Will you go out with me Eun Ji?  Looking up at him, I saw that Jong Hyun looked nervous, and was looking back at me, expecting an answer.

“So…will you?”

Breaking out into a smile, I nodded.

“I would love to Jong Hyun.”

“Chincha?”  He looked like he didn’t believe this was happening.

“Deh, chinchayo!”

“I must be dreaming….”

I reached over the table and pinched his arm.

“Ouch!”

“Well, now you know you aren’t dreaming.”

He stood up and walked over to my side to the table and kneeled down in front of me.

“You’re really going out with me, right?”

“Yes oppa!  I really am going out with you!” I said, laughing.

“Assah!”

He picked me up and swung me around a couple of times before setting me down and pulling me into a hug.

“Thank you Eun Ji ah…”

Hugging him back, I confessed something.

“You know, I’ve been waiting for you to ask me that for awhile.”

Pulling back, Jong Hyun looked at me surprised, and I grinned in response.  I guess there was more to this café than I thought.

How was it?

I based it off the Replay Japanese version <3

I think I'll do that for every character...^^

Well, bye.

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<3 WinterRose