Nichkhun sighed for the 80^th time in the last hour, looking out at the gloomy sky that reflected his mood. He looked around and found himself jealous at the patrons around him, all coupled up and snuggled close together in hopes to radiate heat off each other. Perhaps it was the anger within him that made him feel hot, but he was glad anger finally replaced the sadness that consumed him for the past month. His girlfriend, well currently ex-girlfriend, Tiffany had broken up with him a month ago in this exact spot at his favorite café. It used to be “their” favorite place…used to.

Victoria absentmindedly wiped the counter as the stared outside towards the sad figure sitting by the window. She was and has been the waitress and apprentice of the chef at Café Sérendipité for the past year and a half, working part time since her student days to make ends meet financially. She was a fresh graduate out of Yonsei’s business program but had no luck in finding a job amongst the harsh high rises of Seoul. It’s not like there was anything wrong with her current job, she loved serving other people and watching others happily enjoy the baked sweets they had to offer, especially since Chef Kyuhun had recently allowed her showcase some of her baked goods in the window amongst the other sugar coated goodies, but she knew that she needed to step up her money making game if she wanted to fulfill her dreams to open up her own café.

Victoria knew she wanted to own a café since the day she became an orphan. She was 8 years old when her family fell apart. She had been happily playing in the backyard of her mansion when her caretaker suddenly came crying and holding her in a tight embrace. She couldn’t recall exactly what Auntie Jane had said to her, but the events following imprinted deeply in her mind. She remembered Auntie Jane calling after her as she ran out of the house, the tears in her eyes making her vision blurry. She ran in the direction that her parents and grandparents drove off in the morning until she felt like her lungs were going to collapse. She finally came to her senses when she crashed onto the floor, knees bleeding as her legs finally gave up on her. She had no idea where she was and simply sat on the curb and cried her eyes out as she realized her family was gone forever. The idea of death was new to 8 year old Victoria, but she had seen enough movies to know that once someone goes to heaven, they don’t come back. She didn’t know how long she cried for before a little boy, dressed in a white sweater vest and red bowtie, offering her his handkerchief. Their eyes met when he knelt to her level, patting her head slightly before asking, “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

Victoria couldn’t answer as she choked out sobs.

“Well, a pretty girl like you shouldn’t be crying.” He offered her a small smile.

Victoria continued to cry, her breaths becoming shallow.

“Your knee looks like it hurts.” He pointed. “I don’t have a bandaid, but you should clean it with the handkerchief.” When Victoria didn’t respond, he took the handkerchief from her and gently dabbed at her wound. The pain she should have felt was numbed by the devastation in her heart as she continued to cry.

The little boy looked at her with his big brown eyes and for the first time, Victoria felt comforted. To this day, she can still remember his soft gaze as he tried to cheer her up. He handed her a pink cupcake from his box of three before his butler called upon his young master.

“It’s my birthday and these are my favorite.” He explained as he held her palms open so he could place a cupcake onto her hand. “Whenever I’m in a bad mood, they always make me happy.” He smiled until his eyes disappeared. “I hope they make you happy too.” He said before patting her head for one last time. Perhaps it was because she was hungry, but she had never tasted such a wonderful cupcake. The sweetness seemed to momentarily take over the saltiness of her tears as she watched the little boy drive away. She felt unexplainable warmth after eating the cupcake and her world finally stopped shaking. Ever since that day, she knew that baking would be her passion. She wanted to share the same warmth the bow tie oppa gave her, in hopes to share a little happiness in this fast changing world.

At some point in the night, one of her butlers finally found her. That was all she remembered from that night. After that day, she moved in with her Auntie Jane, who took her in as her own daughter even though she no longer worked for the Song family.

Auntie Jane’s humble apartment was the size of her bathroom at the mansion, but Victoria found comfort in the cozy little apartment. Nothing could replace her parents, but Auntie Jane’s embrace definitely came the closest. That was 14 years ago and even though she sometimes still cried when her parents appeared in her dreams, her memories of them were very faded, like old pictures that have been sitting in the attic for too long. Auntie Jane had raised her to become the young woman she is today and she was practically her mother. Victoria was more than thankful for Auntie Jane and swore to take care of her in her older years. Auntie Jane continued to work as a caretaker for rich families to support Victoria. Life was hard for the two women, sometimes having to go to bed hungry when Auntie Jane was laid off. One day, Victoria noticed how rough the cleaning detergents had made her hands and she knew it was because of her that Auntie Jane had to work so hard. Victoria had been working part time since she was able to and managed to put herself through university with the savings of her teenage years.  When she graduated, she tried convincing Auntie Jane to retire, but she insisted that she’d be bored at home and continued to work to pass the days. Victoria had been saving up to open her own store but with her minimum wage and student loans, her goal seemed to be at the peak of Mount Fuji while she stood at the bottom.

“Unnie, that spot is so clean I can practically see my own reflection.” Her best friend Krystal joked, poking her at the waist and making her jump. “What are you even staring at?”

“Uh… nothing. I’m not staring… just looking outside… to see the rain…” Victoria said nervously, suddenly flustered that she got caught red-handed.

“You’re a horrible liar you know. I know you’ve been staring at that guy by the window.” Krystal nodded in the direction of Nichkhun. “He’s so your type! Want me to pass your number to him?” she joked, knowing Victoria would be too shy to do so.

“Ani ani ani!” Victoria nervously held Krystal’s arm, knowing that her crazy best friend would do as she says.

The two have been best friends since Victoria was 10. Krystal moved into the apartment beside Auntie Jane’s and even though the shy, quiet Victoria was intimidated by Krystal’s loud personality at first, the two eventually became inseparable. The two had completely opposite personalities, but perhaps it was the differences that made them fit like two peas in a pod. Krystal was often the voice for Victoria, always standing up for her when Victoria preferred to keep things to herself. Victoria was like the big sister she never had, comforting her when she ran too fast with her headstrong personality.

“Well just let me know if you need my service. You know I’d do anything for you!” Krystal winked before taking off her apron. “My shifts finally over!” she cheered. “Are you okay closing shop by yourself?”

“Of course.” Victoria assured her. “Remember to take your umbrella, it looks like it’s going to rain.”

“Okay umma.” Krystal said sarcastically. “Message me when you’re home so I know you’re safe.” She said before leaving.

Victoria continued to stare at the man by the window when Krystal left. He had been in the same position for almost two hours now and she couldn’t help but feel sad as she watched his tired posture from behind. Her favorite part of her job was watching people as they entered and imagining a story for them.

Like the couple, holdings hands as they smiled at each other, sharing a cup of coffee and whispering sweet nothings to each other. They must have fallen in love at first sight and have been in love ever since, despite the fact that their families didn’t approve. Or the businessman, in suit and tie, with his eyebrows scrunched up as he looked at his laptop screen. His wife and kids must be waiting at home for him, but he didn’t want to worry them with his stern expression and chose to work overtime in solitude so that he can maintain his happy husband and dad image. Or the nervous teenage girl, smoothing the invisible creases of her skirt for the hundredth time since she arrived, waiting anxiously for her first date with her potential soul mate. Victoria found it easier to pass time at work when she observed her customers and always felt a little bit of satisfaction when she saw them leave with a smile. She liked to believe that it was because of their sweets and coffee that they could throw away their burdens, even if it was temporary, and appreciate the good things life has to offer.

She looked around the quiet café and noticed the man, still sitting alone by the window even though it’s been 4 hours since he arrived. Everyone else had come and gone and even though the gloomy day had been replaced by the dark night, the man’s solemn expression remained the same.

“Hi sir…” Victoria said quietly behind him.

He turned around and Victoria felt her heart hitch by the sadness in his big brown eyes.

“Are you closing?” Nichkhun asked in monotone, rubbing his tired eyes.

“Just about…” she said. “But you can stay for a little longer.”

“Sure.” He said absentmindedly.

“Are… you okay?” she asked timidly.

“It’s none of your business.” He said rudely.

“Oh… it’s just… you seem kind of sad…”

“Don’t you have something better to do… like clean up the store or something? Or are you always this nosy with all your customers?” he stared at her angrily.

Victoria was taken aback. All she wanted to do was to make sure he was okay before he left, she didn’t mean to pry on his business.

“No…” she defended. “I just want to make sure you’re okay.” She offered a small smile.

“I don’t need your help. Can you just leave me alone and stop sticking your nose into everyone’s business? You’re a waitress, not a shrink.” he said before turning back towards the window.

Victoria bowed slightly. “I’m sorry.” She said quietly before heading back towards the kitchen.

Ten minutes later, Nichkhun was about to push open the door to leave when she called out “wait.”

He rolled his eyes before turning around. “I told you, I’m fine.” He said dryly.

Victoria held out a white box sealed with a red bow in front of her. “I know you’re fine, but on gloomy days like these, this always cheers me up.” She offered.

Nichkhun looked at her in disbelief but remained motionless. “What part of mind your own business do you not understand?” He didn’t know waitresses here had become so annoying.

“Consider it a leftover. I’d be throwing it away if you didn’t take it anyway, so you’re doing me a favor.” She smiled sweetly before handing him the box.

Nichkhun only scoffed before leaving the store. He walked towards his car and placed the box in the driver seat before driving off quickly. Victoria watched his sad figure leave and couldn’t help but feel bad for worsening his mood. All she wanted to do was to cheer him up but clearly that didn’t help him at all. She sighed before turning off the lights and locking up the door.

Nichkhun headed towards the kitchen, flicking on the light as his keys hit the counter. He held the box over the garbage can but something in him made him stop. He set the box on the counter and eyed it suspiciously before giving in and unwrapping the neatly done bow. A small pink cupcake greeted him and for the first time in months his lips curled up slightly. Strawberry cupcakes have been his favorite since he could remember and it was the only thing that could cheer him up as the kid. The magic of the cupcakes evidently has not lost its charm as he picked up the cupcake and took a bite. For a moment everything seemed to be okay as memories of him and Tiffany surfaced in his mind. When the cupcake lost it’s taste, reality hit him again and the temporary happiness was replaced by the anger and sadness that engulfed him for the past month.

“This is such bull.” He said angrily to himself before chucking the empty cupcake box into the garbage can.