The next morning both Dara and Seunghyun got up at 7 am to get ready for work, and this time there was no awkward morning where both were undressed. Seunghyun got out of his room in his white button down shirt, shiny slim tie, fitted black business pants, and his limited edition Louis Viton shoes. His shirt black hair was slicked back to give everyone a perfect view of his envious forehead, nose, lips, and jawline. Dara stopped in her tracks for a moment to take this all in and acknowledge the fact that her roommate was VERY good looking. However, she stopped herself after remembering the events yesterday involving his very annoying girlfriend.

“If you’re done checking me out can we leave now?” Dara snapped out of her trance and found Seunghyun staring at her with a smirk on his lips; he knew what she was thinking.

“W-what? I wasn’t checking you out, and are we leaving together?” Dara’s cheeks gave her lie away, for they turned a light shade of red. Seunghyun laughed at her girly behavior and made a note to more often.

“Well, I was thinking I could drive you there, it’s on the way to my office anyway.” Dara has been driven to work her whole life and didn’t have any intention of continuing, even if it meant being in the same car as Seunghyun.

“No thank you. I was actually looking forward to taking the bus; I um want to feel the city life even if it means being stuck in a crowded bus.” Seunghyun was surprised, why would anyone want to take the bus when they had a chance to ride in a car?

“You know you really sound like a country bumpkin,” Seunghyun was trying his best to hold in his laughter.

“YAH! I’m not a bumpkin! I just want to take the bus.”

“Fine, but you should still get out now since the bus comes around this time.”

“Oh really? . Thanks! See you later tonight.” Dara ran out of the house in a hurry.

Seunghyun found everything Dara did to be amusing. She was innocent in many ways and so outgoing when it comes to being independent. That innocence and determination made her even more charming, which shouldn’t be legal because she was already so beautiful. When she stepped out of the room, Seunghyun couldn’t help but marvel over how pretty she looked. She was wearing black skinny jeans, a loose white blouse tucked into the jeans, and white vans. Her chocolate brown hair was tied up into a tight bun with a few strands let loose. Her face barely had makeup on but there was no doubt she would make all the women on the streets jealous over her effortless perfection. Seunghyun was thinking about her while driving to work, and he had to admit it did wonders to his mood. He also knew in the back of his head that thinking like this about another woman wasn’t fair to Eunhye, but it’s not like he was doing anything wrong. Right? He was just acknowledging the obvious fact that his roommate was VERY good looking.

Dara had to admit, she wasn’t expecting the bus ride to work to be THAT hectic. She couldn’t believe how rude some people could be, especially the older women who would yell at younger adults just to take their seats. She respected her elders but she also felt as if the elders should earn that respect. However, she forgot about the bus ride when she stepped inside the doors of her new job and bowed to the workers setting up and excitedly said “Hello! My name is Sandara Park, and I will be joining from now on, I will do my best so please take care of me well!” The coworkers said their hellos and the men in general were excited to have such a pretty woman working with them. Dara made her way into the back where she was told her locker would be, to put on her apron and get ready for a day of training. When she found her locker, she found a pretty girl next to her locker putting on her own apron. Dara said her greetings once again and the girl gave her a sweet smile, one that made her eyes brighten up.

“Hi welcome to the job! I’m Chaerin, I’ve been working here for about 1 year now.”

“Thank you. But, um excuse me do you know who will be training me today? I wasn’t told beforehand.” Dara asked while opening her locker and finding her apron hung neatly.

“Oh, it’ll be our boss, Jaejoong oppa.”

“What?!” Dara wasn’t expecting to interact with her new boss on the first day.

“He likes to get to know the new workers himself and he feels as if it’ll create a good atmosphere in the café if we all were comfortable with each other.”

“Oh… I guess that’s cool…” Dara sounded somewhat nervous and Chaerin laughed and assured her that she’ll be fine.

“Don’t worry about it Sandara-ssi, oppa is actually really nice and chilled out, so you don’t have to worry.”

“That’s good, um Chaerin-ssi, you could call me Dara it’s more comfortable to say.”

“Oh really? Then can I call you Dara unnie? I think you’re older than me, even though you look super young.”

“I’m 24.”

“REALLY? Wow you look like you’re at most 21, but I can call you unnie then, i’m 20. I have to go help set up the chairs now, but if you need any help just ask me or anyone else ok unnie?”

“Okay! Thanks Chaerin.” Chaerin hurried outside and Dara quickly put on her apron and went back outside to see her boss at the counter waiting. She was scared she was leaving a bad impression and therefore ran to his side.

“I’m sorry Hwejangnim, to keep you waiting.” Dara gave a slight bow and looked down.

“Calm down Sandara-ssi, it’s fine I just arrived. No need to be so nervous.” Dara looked up at him and that was all she could do, stare at him. He was insanely good looking. His pale skin went perfectly with his jet black hair, and that crooked smile can make any girl faint. When Dara realized that she basically checking out her boss, she mentally slapped herself and stopped.

“You can call me Dara, it’s more comfortable to say.” Dara was looking down while saying this in a quiet voice.

“Okay then Dara, but here is your first lesson for working in this café. Look up at the person when you’re speaking, even if it’s me, and sound confident. You’re probably going to get annoying customers who’ll try to take advantage of the rule that ‘the customer is always right,’ but they’re not so you have to sound convincing, okay?” Dara instantly looked up and nodded her head in acknowledgement.

“Okay good. Now let’s go to the counter. I’m putting you as cashier who takes the orders and you also have to make the orders. However, everyone takes turns to mop the place and clean the tables. Seungri over here will teach you how to work the machines.”

Dara onced again nodded and Jaejoong said “what you’re not going to take notes?” Dara was surprised and said sorry and was about to go find a notepad and a pencil when she heard him laugh.

“I’m just kidding; you don’t have to take notes.” Dara knew he was laughing at her but she couldn’t help but wish to keep hearing him laugh.

“I’ll be back in a few hours after the café is opened, so try your best okay. You won’t get everything by today but that’s fine.” Jaejoong walked away and a man, who looked pretty young, came to her side.

“I’m Seungri, I’ll be helping you today.” The boy was cute, he had slight dark circles under his eyes but it didn’t look bad, it added to his looks.

“I’m Dara, thank you for helping me.” Seungri was trying so hard not to freak out because he knew he’d screw up if he didn’t act cool in front of someone so pretty.

“So, the cashier is pretty simple…” Seungri went on with his instructions and Dara tried her best to understand them. He was going pretty slowly and she was thankful. She understood most of the directions but knew she’d have trouble with the coffee making machine. When she tried to make her first coffee as a test run, it squirted everywhere and she let out a small scream which to her surprise, surprised no one. Dara was scared she’d get yelled at, but no one said anything, in fact Seungri let out a small laugh. While cleaning up the mess, Dara had a small pout on her lips.

“Dara-ssi don’t worry about the coffee incident, it happened to all of us and it was even worse for some of us. No one’s perfect from the beginning, it’ll all get easier from now on. Trust me.” Dara gave a thankful smile to Seungri, which made his day. Her coworkers were very nice and more than helpful. Dara noticed during the day that Seungri had somewhat of a crush on Chaerin and Chaerin, no matter how much she fought with him, probably liked him back. She found it cute how people show their emotions in the real world. When she was in the Philippines, everyone was much blunter in the industry. Their ways of wooing another person weren’t as innocent as the ones she sees here. She shook the thoughts of the Philippines out of her head and went back to focusing on the customers in front of her.

 Jaejoong came back during happy hour to check on everything and found Dara to be doing well. She had a focused look while making the different drinks, but made sure to give each customer a breathtaking smile with each drink. He also noticed more male customers and their increase in tips. Jaejoong laughed to himself thinking how much a pretty girl can make a difference. He never saw any of his other employees in that light, but he couldn’t help it with Dara. She was cute, really cute.

The day passed by quickly. Working in a café was much more tiring than she had expected. However, she enjoyed working there. The atmosphere of the café was really friendly, she made new friends, her boss was really nice, and it just felt right. After who she believed would be her last customer of the day, she heard the door open again and Dara turned around saying the greeting she was trained to say with a smile.

“Welcome to Café Bene, how may I help y-” The last word didn’t make it out of Dara’s mouth when she saw someone she wasn’t expecting at all. Seunghyun.

“What happened you’re not going to ask me what I want? Such bad manners for a worker tsk tsk tsk.” Seunghyun with a smile on his face.

“What are you doing here?”

“I told you I come here often, plus I realllllly wanted some frozen yogurt.”

Dara smiled at his childish craving and said “welcome to Café Bene, how may I help you?”

“Can I get a mango tart n tasty please?” Seunghyun ordered nicely while getting his wallet out.

“Sure, that’ll be $2.75.”

While getting his order ready, Jaejoong came out from the back room telling Dara she can go home now, but was distracted when he saw Seunghyun.

“Seunghyun-ah! What’s up man I haven’t seen you in forever. What are you doing here?”

“Hyung! I just came to get some food, I see you have a new worker.” Seunghyun said while winking at Dara who was handing him his order, while blushing because of the sudden wink.

“Yeah, this is Dara. She just started today. Dara meet Seunghyun, one of my closest friends.”

Dara didn’t know if she should tell Jaejoong their relationship or not. She looked at Seunghyun not knowing what to do and hoped he would tell Jaejoong instead.

“Oh we know each other already.” Dara sighed in relief.

“You do? How?”

“Dara will tell you, I want to eat my food.” Dara gave him a death stare for putting her in this awkward situation, and he tried his best to keep in his laugh.

“Yah, will one of you just tell me?” Jaejoong looked at both of them, clearly confused.

“I-I’m his new roommate.” She was hoping he doesn’t take it the wrong way like Eunhye did.

“You’re his what? But you’re a girl.”

“Wow hyung, you’re observant.” Seunghyun said in between bites.

“Shut up.”

“His noona gave me the room because she was moving out. I didn’t know I’d be living with a man when I first got it, but I guess it’s okay now.”

“Oh. Wow Hye Yoon noona is crazy. But Dara if this idiot does anything weird, you tell me ok. I’ll kick his .”

“Hyung! Why would I do anything weird to her? She kicks really hard.” Seunghyun was offended and pouted in response.

“Yah how do you know that? Dara did he already try to do something weird?”

“Yah hyung! You don’t trust me?!”

“No I don’t!” Dara didn’t expect such handsome tall men to be so childish. It was surprising but hilarious.

“Um, Hwejangnim, my shift is finished now, may I leave?”

“Oh yeah, you can leave.” Dara walked away to change out of her apron, leaving the two men to continue their conversation.

“Yah, I bet Eunhye wouldn’t be happy if she found out. Does she know?”

“Yeah she found out yesterday, it wasn’t pretty. Eunhye went completely crazy and started accusing us of dating and but Dara surprisingly made it clear we weren’t. It was pretty funny to be honest to see Eunhye that pissed because I barely see anyone talk back to her.”

“Wowwww, so what’s gonna happen now? I doubt she’s gonna leave the situation alone.”

“Yeah I know, but I told her Dara’s not gonna move out. She has nowhere else to go.”

“She can stay with me.” Jaejoong said half-jokingly. He was in fact jealous that Seunghyun had such a cute roommate.

“Yah hyung are you gonna hit on your own employee? Plus I won’t let her move out.” Jaejoong gave Seunghyun an accusing look.

“Why? Do you like her?” Seunghyun wasn’t expecting that question.

“W-what? A-are you crazy? I won’t let her move out because my noona would kill me if I did.” Jaejoong saw through Seunghyun’s answer and knew there was something more than just following his noona’s orders.

“Hyung I don’t!” Seunghyun knew Jaejoong didn’t believe him and was trying his best to convince him but it wasn’t very helpful.

“Don’t what?” Dara was now by their side again. Seunghyun was caught off guard and surprised by her presence.

“Nothing.” Jaejoong said with a smirk on his face and walked away saying good bye.

“Come let’s go.” Seunghyun was walking out of the door when he realized she wasn’t following him.

“Where?”

“Where else? Home.” Seunghyun gave her a look that said “duhhh.”

“You’re going by bus?”

“No, I’ll just drive us home. Don’t tell me you still want to take the bus.”

…

“Yah the bus isn’t safe at night, and would it make sense? We’re both going to the same place but by different ways of transportation? That’s just stupid.” Dara knew he made sense and finally agreed to his request.

The car parked outside was a black land rover, and it made Dara miss hers so much. She had owned a white land rover back in the Philippines and seeing this brought back so many memories. Her car was her baby.

“What happened you’re not getting in?” Seunghyun’s voice brought Dara back to reality and saw him holding the passenger’s door open for her. She got in and put in her seatbelt. The ride home was quiet but nice. After working the whole day, the silence was nice. Dara was dead tired and at one point fell asleep against the car window. He looked over to tell her they were home but found her in a deep slumber. He thought it would be wrong to wake her up at this point and did the first thing that came to his head. He got out of the car and walked over to her side to open her door. He unbuckled her seat belt and picked up her up bridal style. She stirred in her sleep but ended up cuddling closer to his chest while wrapping her arms around his neck. He should’ve woken her up at that point, knowing it was wrong. He had a girlfriend, a girlfriend who was mad at him. But, all he did was bring Dara closer to him and walked into the building. In the elevator, he saw her face. She looked so calm and at peace. Everything in the world had stopped for Seunghyun as he bent his head down to give Dara a kiss on the forehead and he couldn’t help but continue on from there to give her a kiss on the nose. The slight contact on the nose made Dara stir once again and he was scared she’d wake up to find them like this but all she did was scrunch up her nose slightly. He could melt at how sweet Dara looked. When the elevator reached the 11^th floor he opened the door to darkness and made his way into her room. Seunghyun set her down softly and covered her with a blanket. He stood there for a moment to take in her beauty, especially with the slight moonlight seeping through the blinds, onto her face. He reached down to take a loose strand of hair on her cheek and pushed it back behind her ear. Seunghyun whispered a soft “good night” and turned around to leave the room when he saw something.

At the door frame was Eunhye standing there staring at him. She didn’t look angry. She looked hurt.

***********Hope you like this chapter!