Jeong: What do you think about it? I reduced the amount of sugar by at least an eighth of the original measurement. I kind of find the original recipe too sweet. So… what do you think?
**Mina’s face wrinkled, pretending that she hasn’t found any significant difference between the original and the modified measurement of Jeong’s cake.**
Mina: Hmm…
**Then she grinned and squished her eyes just to annoy Jeong ‘cause she knows she’s waiting for her answer impatiently.**
Jeong: What?
Mina: It’s perfect! As always.
Jeong: Aaaaaah! You made me nervous about that. I thought it wasn’t!
**Mina giggled before she wrapped her arms around Jeong’s torso and rested her temple on her shoulder.**
Mina: Well, what makes you think it won’t? You know you have a magic touch with everything you make, so why worry about it?
**Jeong snorted just to act that she’s disappointed with how Mina tricked her earlier. But then pulled her closer to hug her tight. She just couldn’t resist this young lady clinging to her.**
Jeong: You really know how to play with me, huh?
Mina: Hmm… I just love it whenever you have that crease on your forehead. You look so cute, you know.
Jeong: Aah, in short, you love to annoy me. Is that it?
**Mina pushed a little, yet hands still resting on Jeong’s lower back. She stared at her eyes and smiled with her pressed lips.**
Mina: Not really annoy you. Maybe just to tease you, you know. And I would love to do it forever if it’s okay with you.
**Jeong’s eyes widened. It’s not like they’re not talking about the possibility of getting married, it’s just… she didn’t expect Mina would say it first.**
Mina: Why don’t we… you know…
Jeong: Get married? I mean, we’ve been together for quite a long time, right? So, why don’t we make it official?
**Jeong knows what Mina wants to say and she feels that it should be her who’s asking about them getting married. Instead of the other way around. So before Mina say it, she did her best to interrupt her and do the job that she knows belongs to her.**
**Mina froze with Jeong’s sudden question. Of course, it’s her who started the conversation, but hearing it from someone you love, instead of saying it, still makes it a bit surprising. And that’s what she feels at that moment. Is this really happening? She thought.**
Jeong: Aren’t you supposed to say, “yes I’ll marry you,” instead of just staring at me as if I killed someone?
**Mina still couldn’t make herself answer the question. She’s still in the middle of processing what’s going on.**
Jeong: So? I guess, no. I guess it’s not the question you’re about to ask me, right?
Mina: Of… of course, not. I’m just shocked that you’re thinking the same. I mean… it’s supposed to be me asking you the question. I thought about it the whole night, but then you stole the moment from me!
**Her voice was a bit higher, which made Jeong laugh so hard.**
Mina: What’s so funny?
**She disengaged her arms from Jeong and frowned. A bit offended with the way Jeong laughed at her. She turned her back to her, no longer in the mood for a talk. But Jeong pulled her against her and held her tight. Not a chance to let you go. She thought.**
Jeong: I’m sorry.
**She whispered on Mina’s right. Then she pressed her temple against Mina.**
Jeong: I didn’t mean to ruin the moment, you know. I just feel like it should be me asking you about it. Well, another thing I should say sorry about is, I don’t have the ring yet. So… are you or are you not going to say yes?
**Mina whirled while Jeong’s arms were still wrapping her.**
Mina: Hey! Why does it sound like a threat?
**Jeong giggled. This is indeed the best proposal that she ever thought of. Annoying Mina first before telling her how much she loves her, and that she couldn’t live without her. That the only thing that will put their relationship to an end is death.**
Jeong: Well… maybe it is. ‘Cause losing you means losing half of me, too. And that I want to wake up each morning beside you. Cooking you breakfast or dinner, whichever way you want. That I couldn’t see myself without this girl I met five years ago. That the first time I saw her, I know she’s the one. She’s the one that I’ll be risking my life with. That I don’t care what other people would say about me. ‘Cause what only matters to me is, I have you, and I would love to be part of your life for the rest of my life.
**It was indeed one of the best memories that Mina hold inside her. Something she won’t ever forget even on the last day of her life.**
**She was standing in front of her and Jeong’s photo in her room. Thinking about their good old days together. What if Jeong didn’t die in that accident? Maybe they’re still happy together in the hotel, making as many coffees and cakes as they used to plan when they were still in the university. But if she’s still alive, it only means one thing, she will never meet Chaeyoung. Maybe they will, but the possibility of finding interest in her won’t ever occur.**
Mina: I hope you’re happy now ‘cause I’m starting to be. And I’m hoping it’s fine with you.
*****
**Chaeng couldn’t sleep. And no matter how much she closes her eyes or count sheep, her mind is still not resting. It’s filled with so many things. She’s thinking about her new book over and over, Mina---everything that’s happening between them, and her parents. But even though she doesn’t want to admit it. She thinks about her parents less and less every single day. It’s like the pain is starting to vanish, yet she still knows that they’re no longer around. Is it a good sign? She asked herself at four in the morning.**
Chaeng: Gosh! What’s happening to you Chaeyoung? I told you to not drink the tea earlier. You know it has the worst effect on you than coffee, right? Yet you still took it. Now what? You only have two hours of sleep.
**Then she unwillingly sat up. She might not want to get up yet since it’s only four in the digital clock sitting on the bedside table, but lying on the bed isn’t a good idea either. She felt like she’s just wasting her time being awake and doing nothing. So, she finally decided to stand up and continue writing her manuscript.**
**“Why is her picture getting clearer and clearer every time I dream about her? Is it because I’m going to meet her sooner?” Dana thought while clasping her cup of coffee with both hands. She’s on her couch having her coffee on Sunday morning. She just had a dream of this girl again. And the more she dreams about her, the more she becomes eager to know her name, or where she lives, or what she’s doing. But how on earth is she going to know those things? She hasn’t had a clue where to start. It’s a case that will never be solved for her. And she knows that.**
**Dana plopped her back on the couch, head resting on the backrest, arms on her lap, and eyes staring at nothing. “If we’re really destined to be together, why don’t we just bump into each other sooner. Maybe meet me at the grocery or coffee shops or somewhere. Why show up in my dreams and make me wonder how it feels to be held by you? I know you’re wondering who I am, too---that is if I also appear in your dreams.”**
**Chaeng kept in writing and writing in front of her laptop, and it seems like words won’t leave her sooner. Her hands were eager to type everything that her imagination is showing her. Why stop if you have overflowing pictures in your head? Write it until you have it because when it’s gone… it’s gone. It will be very difficult to find it again. That’s what she always says whenever someone asks her how she could publish books one after the other. They think that she’s not resting and overworking herself. But for her, it’s not. It just so happened that she’s full of it and that it couldn’t be stopped. The only choice she has is to keep on writing them on a piece of paper until it fades.**
**The only time that made her realized that she’s been writing non-stop was when she heard her stomach growl.**
Chaeng: Aaah!
**She held her stomach with her right then check the time on her laptop.**
Chaeng: Shit! It’s already six?
**Then she stood up and peeked at her window. Indeed, it’s already morning. The clouds are now showing up above her.**
Chaeng: Guess I have to take my shower now and have breakfast.
*****
**Chaeng was already at her usual spot with her laptop open and a cup of coffee on her side when Mina entered the café. Mina smiled when she saw her even though Chaeng’s attention was pinned on her laptop’s screen. She’s just happy that Chaeng’s here and that she’s the first thing she’d seen this morning even if they haven’t said their good mornings yet.**
Ryujin: Eyeing your girlfriend, eh? She’s been sitting there since seven, writing.
**Ryujin interjected Mina’s thought. And Mina flinched at the sound of her voice again. Why does Ryujin seem to camouflage these days? She doesn’t seem to notice her whenever she’s in deep thought.
Mina: What?
Ryujin: I said, eyeing your girlfriend.
Mina: Girlfriend?
**She almost screamed, which Ryujin finds funny.**
Ryujin: I’m just kidding. You don’t have to be so defensive you know.
**Then she continued to stick the plastic cups at the side of the counter.**
**Mina realized that Ryujin’s right. She’s overreacting although there’s nothing wrong with what she said. After all, it might happen anytime soon. So, she toned down and relaxed her now stiffed body because of the “girlfriend thing” that Ryujin mentioned a minute ago.**
Mina: Sorry. So… how’s everything? Do we have more customers today?
Ryujin: Hmm…
**Ryujin wasn’t looking at her. Her attention is still on what she’s doing. Now she’s crouching down and piling up the cake saucers under the counter table. While Mina’s filling in the coffee maker with more roasted coffee beans.**
Ryujin: Yeah. The group that came in yesterday had a super early breakfast. They seemed to have a long day ahead. I heard they made an itinerary so they’ll be gone the entire day. Thank God.
**Mina tilted her head towards Ryujin and saw her rolled her eyes. She doesn’t like the group so much. They were four young ladies and two lads. Maybe in their early twenty’s or so. They’re noisy and don’t seem to care about their surroundings, which she thinks a bit disturbing for their other guests. But she can’t do anything about it since they’re also their guests.**
Mina: How long will they stay here?
**Ryujin stood up and stretched her back before she answered.**
Ryujin: Three days. And I’m glad that it’s only three days, okay? Sorry, I know they’re part of our sales, but I don’t think they’re a huge loss.
Mina: Well, you’re right. I don’t like how noisy they are, too. So not having them for more days won’t do any effect on our book.
Sana: Good morning!
**Mina whirled for she recognized that voice. While Ryujin jumped on her feet with excitement when she saw who it was.**
Ryujin: Hey! Good morning! It’s been a while since you visited us.
**Sana leaned closer at the counter with her arms resting on it, wearing her bright smile as usual. And Ryujin ran towards her to give her proper greetings.**
Sana: I’m so busy with work and I really don’t get much free time. But since I promised your sister that I’ll visit her one of these days, here I am.
** Well, it’s not that Mina expects her to drive to the café this sooner, she’s actually okay with her not being around. Seeing her only reminds her that something is missing ‘cause she always says “You need to get out. You need to meet new people. You need to open yourself again.” But what she really needs is time to heal… time to heal on her own, and not with the help of anyone else.**
**Mina walked towards her, but not as excited as Ryujin is.**
Mina: Want the usual?
**Sana straightened up and shifted her attention to Mina who’s now standing in the cash register and ready to take her order.**
Sana: Yes, please. But I guess you need to double it.
Mina: Oh… I thought you’re on a diet nowadays?
Sana: A—ah. Not for me.
**Then she circled to her left to call someone. Mina wondered who it is. Is it the guy she mentioned the last time they had dinner together—a friend of her friend?**
**The guy Sana called was already sitting at the table near the door and staring at them. And when Mina saw him, her heart suddenly flutters. She knew him. Yes, she’s a hundred percent sure that she knew him. But what is he doing here? She thought he was in Canada managing their family business.**
**This guy walked towards them with a wide smile. He was wearing khaki pants and a cream striped pullover. And his hair was dangling in his forehead. But it still looks clean on him.**
**Mina swallowed hard. Didn’t expect this mini-reunion. And she hates Sana for this unexpected event.**
Bam: Hey! It’s been a while. Isn’t it?
**His smile was plastered in his face, and even Ryujin smiled at the sight of him. She didn’t expect to see this beautiful guy again after she doesn’t know when’s the last time she saw him.**
**Mina is speechless for a second. Still couldn’t believe Bam is standing in front of her, and still bearing his gorgeous smile.**
Mina: H—hi.
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