Jeong: Hey, baby! Get up! I cooked something for you.
**Mina slightly opened her eyes and see Jeong sitting at the edge of the bed, caressing her arms to wake her up.**
Jeong: Look! It's warm outside. We can have a walk or ride our bikes to town to eat something wonderful at lunch. But for now, let's eat breakfast first.
**Mina heard herself groan 'cause she still wants to sleep, though the ray of the sun is already burning her cheeks.**
Jeong: Heeeey! Don't give me that! Get up now!
**She heard Jeong spoke again after she closed her eyes. Then she felt her warm lips pressed against her temple. It made her smile that her lover is trying her best to wake her up.**
**Jeong hugged her after the kiss. So tight that she could feel her body's warmth enveloping her. But something odd happened. It started to get cold again. A cold that she never felt before. A cold that reminded her that her room's temperature is starting to fall... and fall. Then she wakes up under her comforter, almost panting and feeling cold, yet she could feel the beads of sweat on her forehead.**
**A pang of pain suddenly stubbed her in her chest. She missed her. She missed her so much, which made her tears fall without her knowing.**
Mina: I'm sorry.
**She whispered, though she knows there's nothing to be sorry for. It's not her fault if Jeong is no longer at her side. No one wants her to die at that accident, but she always feels that she should have died, too. That it's better if they both died in that tragic accident, instead of just her lover.**
*****
**Chaeng woke up early. She's not having trouble sleeping though. But sleeping somewhere for the first time always gets into her. It's like something inside her wants to get up earlier than usual because her body knows it isn't her room or bed. So even though she's still sleepy and still want to savor the soft feel of the bed and the smooth touch of the comforter's fabric against her skin, she got up.**
**She was sitting at the corner of the café, behind the glass wall, and wondering if it's better to sit outside—closer to nature. No. She told herself. Not at this hour.**
**Well, it's only a quarter to six and just a few people were sitting in the café. Most of them are older than her and holding newspaper while sipping their coffee.**
**Then the girl who attended to her needs last night approached her.**
Ryujin: Good morning!
**She's wearing the same smile she wore last night. But the difference today is, she's now wearing an apron and has pen and paper in her hand, ready to take her order.**
Chaeng: Hi! Good morning!
**She smiled back at her 'cause why not? That kid has a sincere smile. As if the whole night didn't tire her or something.**
Ryujin: So, how's your sleep? Is it better? I mean, being away from the city and all?
**Chaeng didn't expect her to drop those questions 'cause they didn't have a small talk last night. She might have asked her several questions before she gave her her room key, but it didn't sound personal, unlike now.**
Chaeng: Hmm... it's better, but weird 'cause I woke up early.
**Ryujin nodded and she could feel how the kid is paying so much attention to her.**
Ryujin: Well, that's normal I guess. Most of our guests have the same thing on their first night. By the way, want to have something while staring at the view outside?
**She was talking about the trees and mountains in front of their hotel. That's what makes their hotel insanely popular—the nature behind the glass wall is just so breathtaking.**
Chaeng: Yeah! Just brewed coffee and pancake.
**Ryujin didn't write Chaeng's order in her paper.**
Ryujin: Why don't I give you our special coffee and our bestselling waffle? Well, I'm not sure if you want whip cream in a waffle, but we have that.
**That sounds better than just a plain pancake, so why not.**
Chaeng: Oh... if it tastes better why not? Let me have that.
**Ryujin dropped her hands on her side and beamed a smile.**
Ryujin: Great! I'll get you that!
**Before she turned her back to Chaeyoung, Chaeng suddenly got this silly idea.**
Chaeng: Uhm... wait!
Ryujin: What? More syrup?
Chaeng: No! Not that. Is it okay if I play something on your piano?
**Chaeng turned her head towards the huge piano sitting at the corner of the café. It's as if calling her, and inviting her to play something.**
**Ryujin's forehead wrinkled. She wasn't sure if that piano is still in good condition, since the person who maintains it is no longer with them. And no one ever dared to play with it ever since.**
Ryujin: It's fine. But I'm not sure if it's still in tune. It's been a while since someone touched it.
**Chaeng's eyes were still fixed at that huge piano. She doesn't care if it's out of tune or what. All she knows is she wants to be near it and play something with it. Something that her mom taught her when she was a little kid.**
Chaeng: Hmm... okay. Maybe, it's now the time for someone to check it again. That thing deserves attention.
Ryujin: All right! Play anything you want while I prepare your breakfast.
**Chaeng whirled again to give her smile to this young girl in front of her.**
Chaeng: Thanks!
**She paused and searched for the name tag in her chest.**
Chaeng: Ryujin!
**Ryujin suddenly felt giddy after she heard her name. There's something awesome with this girl. She thought.**
*****
**Mina drove early to the hotel. It was because of the dream that woke her up earlier. That no matter how much she close her eyes and twitch on her bed, she could no longer go back to sleep.**
**She pushed the café door and saw Ryujin smiling at the counter while adding whipped cream on the plate. Her eyes were fixed at the plate in front of her, but her smile is endless. She wondered what's happening until she noticed something odd that morning. There's music playing in the background that she never heard before. Where is it coming?**
Mina: What's that song?
**She whispered when she finally approached her sister at the counter.**
**Ryujin lifted her head, still smiling.**
Ryujin: Oh...
**Then she pointed at the person playing behind the piano, which Mina didn't realize when she entered the door. She stood there, watching the girl playing the song she's not familiar with.**
**It might not be familiar to her, but every note is soothing and feels perfect for this place. It feels like a marshmallow, soft and sweet, and kind of melting inside.**
**Who is she? She wants to ask. But she's too mesmerized by the way she plays every key. So she just stood there, speechless, until the girl playing behind the piano finished her piece.**
**Chaeyoung stood up and went back to her seat.**
Ryujin: She's done now. I have to bring this to her.
**Ryujin held the tray with her both hands. But before she could walk back to Chaeng's table, Mina stopped her.**
Mina: When did... when did she arrive?
Ryujin: Hmm... last night. She'll be staying for two weeks.
Mina: Do you remember her name?
**Shit, Mina! What were you thinking? Why are you even asking for her name? She nagged herself.**
Ryujin: I honestly don't know. She wasn't the one who called for the reservation. It was her friend. But let me ask her about that. I'll let you know when I come back.
**Then Ryujin continued to walk towards Chaeng's table. Excited to tell her how wonderful she is, and that she likes her piece. But most of all, just like Mina, she's also intrigued about this girl. Who is she? Maybe, she's a popular musician. She suddenly thought.**
**Mina didn't move. She was just there, standing and staring at the girl who's busy scanning the view outside. There's nothing extravagant with her. She's just wearing a white shirt, ripped jeans, and a Chuck Taylor. But there's something in her that made Mina forget the sadness she felt earlier.**
**She shook her head and walked behind the counter to pull her apron at the cabinet underneath.**
*****
Ryujin: Wow! That was "austaunding" or whatever you call it.
**Chaeng chuckled because there's something odd with the way Ryujin said the word. She doesn't want to correct her, but it's her nature to at least give the correct word to describe every situation better.**
Chaeng: You mean, astounding?
**Ryujin laughed. She doesn't mind if Chaeng corrected her or not. She likes this girl so much that she doesn't get offended.**
Ryujin: Right! Sorry. I'm not good with words. My vocabulary is limited, you know.
**Then she placed the waffle in front of Chaeng and followed it with the cup of coffee.**
Chaeng: Are you still... going to school?
Ryujin: Nah!
**She stood there with the tray on her side.**
Ryujin: I don't think school is for me. Or rather, I'm still not sure what I want to do with my life.
**Chaeng nodded once, and then picked up the spoon beside her coffee.**
Chaeng: You love making this?
Ryujin: What?
**The question didn't seem to register in Ryujin's mind. What did she mean about that? She thought.**
Chaeng: I mean, making coffee and sweets.
Ryujin: Oh... that. I do. I mean, I don't feel tired even after a long night of making coffee and sweets for people I barely know.
**Chaeng let out a warm huge smile.**
Chaeng: I guess, you already found something you want to do in your life.
**That left Ryujin speechless. She hadn't thought about it that way. But maybe this stranger is right. That maybe she already found what she wants in her life. It's just she doesn't see it that way because she's looking in a different direction.**
**Chaeng took a sip of her coffee and was surprised by the taste of it. It was the first time she had that kind of coffee.**
**The bitterness is strong, but the sweet taste of the caramel kind of complements it. Like you'll only taste the sweet caramel at the end after you've savored the bitterness of the beans.**
Chaeng: Wow! I've never had this kind of coffee before. Is this your own recipe?
**Ryujin was still in awe by the fact that she finally understood why she's there, making sweets and coffee with her sister.**
Ryujin: Uhm... yeah! It's my sister's. She had that before she even got this hotel.
Chaeng: Oh... you own this place.
**That thing kind of surprised Chaeng. She thought this girl in front of her is just here to support her school or something. She didn't think that this kid is this rich, like her best friend.**
Ryujin: Not me, my sister. Hmm... by the way.
**Ryujin finally got back to her senses and remembered that she has a question for this girl.**
Ryujin: I forgot to get your name last night. I mean, it was your friend who made the reservation, right?
Chaeng: Yeah! She's my best friend. I apologize for not giving you my name last night. I was so tired of driving here. Anyway, it's Son Chaeyoung.
**Ryujin's eyes widened. She heard that name before. Wait! Where did I hear it? It sounds so familiar. She blinked several times. I knew I heard it before. She thought again.**
Ryujin: Why does it sound so familiar?
Chaeng: Maybe... maybe because you've read my name somewhere.
Ryujin: Read? What do you mean?
**Chaeng shrugged. It's not her nature to introduce herself as a bestselling author. She's fine if people don't know her name. She's actually better off with that.**
**Then Ryujin felt someone tapped her on her shoulder.**
Mina: I'm sorry.
**Mina slightly bowed her head towards Chaeng to apologize.**
**Chaeng almost dropped her spoon on the table after seeing Mina.**
Mina: I know you came here to have your alone time, and not to have a long talk with my sister.
**She eyed Ryujin with her left brow up.**
Ryujin: Oh... sorry.
**Then she bowed her head, too. Didn't realize she's been talking too much already. It was the first time she bothered someone because she's too interested to know that person.**
Chaeng: Uhm... no, it's fine. I mean, I don't find it bothersome.
**So, she's the owner of this place? Chaeng thought. She looks so elegant though she's only wearing a beige knitted sweater and denim pants before the mustard apron she's wearing. And she's too pretty, just like this place.**
Chaeng: I'm ah... Son Chaeyoung.
**What? What the hell is going on? Why do you even need to tell her your name? She's not even asking. Maybe she's not even interested. You're starting to get weird again, Chaeyoung!**
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