GIRLS ON TRACK || Ryeji

Chapter 6: Best FriENDs Pt.2

Yeji's P.O.V

"The treat's on me," Lia said, pushing the glass door of the bakery open. She held the door as she waited for Chaeryeong and me to enter.

As soon as I entered, I was greeted with the sweet aroma of freshly baked breads, salivating me as my bandaged nose was hooked up in the sticky air caused by the rising of yeast, accompanied with the heat produced by the oven. The countertop display cases with trays of various visually appealing treats didn't help my growling stomach either. I was tempted to devour everything in my sight.

"Welcome to The Choissant," Chaeryeong presented with a proud smile as if she owns the place, "The best bakery in the neighborhood."

"Wow," I uttered, still breathing in the sickly sweet scent and scanning the surroundings with wonder, "This place is amazing!"

I took some time trying to decide which bread to pick, and I had to prevent myself from putting too many of them on my tray because Lia's the one who will pay. I don't want her to spend too much on me. Soon, I found my hands hovering over the mocha breads, contemplating whether to take it or not because they hold a sentimental value to me. She loves mocha bread... I smiled weakly as I gazed at them a little longer before I picked one up with the tongs and put it on the tray.

"You done over there?" Chaeryeong queried, holding a tray full of donuts and some pastries. "Take as much as you like since Lia's paying."

"Ryeongchae, isn't it too much?" Lia whined after seeing her tray. I just tittered at their interaction, shaking my head.

****

"Yeji." I munched on the mocha bread and averted my eyes to Chaeryeong's direction when she called my name. "Can I ask you something?"

I nodded, feeling the light and airy texture of the bread as it melted in my mouth with an intense chocolate flavor and a hint of coffee.

"How do you know Ryujin?" The remaining mocha bread lingered over my lips at the instant her name was mentioned. "Sorry, you don't have to tell if it's too personal."

"No, it's fine," I said as I set the bread down on the plate, "You guys deserve to know." Lia and Chaeryeong stared at me like little kids getting ready for story time.

Flashback

"Yeji-yah!" Mom shouted from downstairs as I was standing in front of the full-length mirror in my room, adjusting the bow tied around the collar of my blouse, and then throwing on the coat. "Ryujin's waiting for you! Hurry up!"

"Coming!" I shouted back, twisting the door knob, while my other hand grabbed the handle of my backpack lying on the floor.

There I was greeted with the pleasant sight of Ryujin standing at the kitchen counter, engaged in a conversation with my mom as she cooked breakfast: sunny-side up eggs, sausages, bean sprout soup and some Korean side dishes. When Ryujin noticed me approaching them, she smiled at me, her adorable whisker dimples visible. I returned the gesture with one of my famous gummy smiles.

"Join our break fast before you go to school, Ryujin-ah," my mom persuaded her, preparing the plates on the dining table just a few centimeters away from the kitchen counter, "I cooked your favorite sunny-side eggs." 

"Yes, aunt Seulgi," Ryujin accepted politely, helping mom set the plates down.

"Go call your dad and brother from the living room, Yeji-yah," mom instructed me.

I went to the living room, where dad was immersed in a newspaper in his hands as he sat on the couch with one leg crossing over the other, and my older brother, mostly mistaken by strangers as my twin, was watching the replay of a football match yesterday on the flat TV.